According to SCI, a concussion is defined as a complex pathophysiological process that affects the brain (SCI, 2016). A concussion is commonly known as a mild traumatic brain injury, often sustained in sports, falls, motor vehicle accidents, assault, and other incidents (Cornell, 2015). A blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain (Brainline, 2015).
Adult brains typically weigh approximately three pounds. The brain floats inside of the skull surrounded by cerebral spinal fluid. The cerebral spinal fluid acts as a shock absorber when the brain undergoes miner impacts (Nordqvist, 2015). The signs of a concussion can be subtle. Patients, family members, and doctors sometimes overlook problems or misdiagnose concussion
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Serious symptoms of a concussion might include: headache or a feeling of pressure in the head, temporary loss of consciousness, confusion or feeling as if in a fog, amnesia surrounding the traumatic event, “seeing stars,” or dizziness, possible ringing in the ears, nausea/vomiting, slurred speech, delayed response to questions, appearing dazed, fatigue, and more (Mayo, 2014). Many sources say that symptoms vary with each case. If none of the more serious symptoms are present, the patient may have a concussion not requiring a visit to the Emergency Room (Cornell, …show more content…
Although most people have a decent recovery, how quickly one improves depends on many factors. These factors include how severe their concussion was, what part of the brain was injured, their age, and how healthy, they were before they sustained a concussion (Brainline, n.d). While a majority of athletes suffering from a concussion are asymptomatic within a week or two, some suffer prolonged symptoms lasting weeks to months according to Straus, author of “Risk Factors for Concussion and Prolonged Recovery” (Straus, 2016).
A recent study was carried out comparing healthy athletes to those of the same age who suffered from a concussion 30 years ago. The results showed that those who experienced head trauma had symptoms similar to those of early Parkinson's disease - as well as memory and attention deficits (Nordqvist, 2015). There are not many major long-term effects of a concussion according to Batjer’s article Long-term Concussion Symptoms: What’s My Child’s Risk?” (Batjer, 2016).
In conclusion, brains are difficult to read and concussions impact the brain in ways that doctors and medical professionals are not even aware of. Many studies have shown people how concussions can affect the brain and how each brain acts and reacts during and after trauma. As previously stated, concussions can be mild or severe, or somewhere in the middle. No two brain injuries are
This will ultimately cause some desperation to those affected, as performing daily chores will be difficult. Long-term effects of concussions are rare with sportspersons and any other people for that matter. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) results to symptoms similar to those of concussion, but individuals with these TBIs often experience more severe problems with paying attention and loss of short-term memory, have difficulty performing daily tasks (e.g. practicing, learning, involvement in games, etc.), and report feeling “slower”
Contrary to popular belief, a concussion is not a bruise to the brain caused by hitting a hard surface. Indeed, no physical swelling or bleeding is usually seen on radiological scans. The injury generally occurs when the head either accelerates rapidly and then is stopped, or is spun rapidly.
First we must define what a concussion is, according to Graham, R., Rivara who wrote the book over concussions in youth (2014), states that a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells. Going more in detail about the inner workings of the brain, it is made of soft tissue. Also cushioned by spinal fluid that both provide a protective shell of the skull. When you sustain a concussion, the impact can jolt your brain. Sometimes, it literally causes it to move around in your head. There are three different types of concussions they are graded as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3), depending on such factors as loss of consciousness, amnesia, and loss of equilibrium according to Kimbler,, D. E. (2011) and the news journal Concussion and the Adolescent Athlete. In a grade 1 concussion, symptoms last for less than 15 minutes. There is no loss of consciousness.With a grade 2 concussion, there is no loss of consciousness but symptoms last longer than 15 minutes. And in a grade 3 concussion, the person loses consciousness, sometimes just for a few seconds.A lot of people only think that concussions can come from sports
A concussion is a complex series of trauma that affects the brain. They can be caused by a direct blow to the brain or an indirect hit directed to someone’s body. Some of the symptoms are brain related such as headaches, memory loss, and nausea. Headaches and dizziness are the leading reported symptoms of a brain injury. Concussions can have symptoms affecting a person’s emotions like sadness and drowsiness. Researchers have concluded after studies that athletes who receive one concussion are one-two times more likely to get a second one. The CDC has
A concussion is when you go unconsciousness for a little while caused by a blow to the head. The term is also used loosely of the after effects such as confusion or temporary incapacity. Concussion is are known as a mild brain injury that is a mild brain injury MTBI mild head injury and a little head trauma. Some experts will define a concussion as a head injury with temporary loss of brain function which can cause some cognitive physical and emotional symptoms. Symptoms may also include headache, confusion, lack of coordination. The term concussion describes an injury to the brain resulting from a hard impact to the head. By definition a concussion is not a life threatening injury but should be treated fast . The use of protective headgear can decrease the risk of a concussion when you are engaging in any of the following activities Contact martial arts sports such as boxing, karate, and others Football. Most post concussion symptoms such as headaches, sensitivity to noise and light, dizziness, fatigue and memory problems go away with about seven to ten days after the injury but sometimes post concussion symptoms can last up to about 3 months. Rarely do symptoms last longer. What can you do when you have a concussion? Some people who have had a concussion find that at first it
In the United States alone, athletes account for about 300,000 concussions each year (11 Facts). A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that causes swelling of the brain 's soft tissue and disrupts normal brain function (Concussion). A concussion has potential to impact memory and coordination for the rest of the athlete 's life along with lead to other, more serious, brain injuries. In order for athletes to reduce the effects from concussions, they need to be educated on the symptoms, ways to avoid the injury, and the possible lifelong effects.
The media and fans fostered a heightened awareness for sport concussion as they learned of high-profile professional athletes who attributed their retirements to repetitive concussions. Additionally, postconcussion syndrome was identified in players who retired for other reasons in the months and years after their injuries. As a result, the current research concerned with the identification, management, and long-term effects of concussion is adding new and exciting information to the professional body of knowledge required to reduce the risk of injury.” (Cerebral Concussion: Causes, Effects, and Risks in
A concussion is a type of TBI that is caused from an impact to the head or from a jolt of the head which can be caused by a fall. A person receives a concussion when the brain hits the side of the inner skull due to the blow. This causes the brain to become more sensitive to some aspects of life. There are three different levels of a concussion mild, moderate, and severe. All three of these forms all have different symptoms (although some overlap) and different lengths of recovery.
Getting multiple concussions can lead to cognitive impairments, which means that the person may struggle with attention, memory, learning, critical thinking, and reasoning skills (Mental Health Daily). It can also lead to motor decline, which means the person may struggle with their balance, coordination, or movement (Mental Health Daily). They may also suffer problems with communication, meaning the way they talk or process what others are saying (Mental Health Daily). And they can also suffer from Neurodegeneration, which means neurons lose their function or even the death of neurons. Neurodegeneration could lead to a person suffering from a disease like dementia. This is why a person who has suffered from a concussion must fully recover, meaning they have no more symptoms and their brain has healed completely, before they restart any activity that can cause another
A concussion is a mild head injury which is sustained by a jolt or impact to one's head. “Concussions can be caused by a variety of traumatic events: motor vehicle accidents, penetrating injuries, sports injuries, strikes, and falls”(Schafer, 2014). Side effects of concussions range from clumsiness. slurred speech, nausea or vomiting, headache, balance problems or dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and noise, sluggishness, ringing in the ears, personality changes, difficulty concentrating and memory loss. A concussion is similar to a bruise on an arm or leg but instead the bruise is on the tissues of the brain. Since people can’t see the damage of the injury to the brain many concussions go undiagnosed or untreated for days weeks or even years. When a concussion goes undiagnosed or untreated it can result in further head trauma: untreated it can lead to blood clots and tumors in the brain, an onset of parkinson’s disease and in worst cases death. However it wasn't until 2011 that the issue of concussions went into the public spotlight.
It’s not always easy to determine if someone has a concussion, as mention said before passing out doesn’t always mean a person is having a concussion. The symptom may variety from very severe to an insignificant thing, it may last for hours to day maybe even weeks, it may even be months. There are many symptoms to a concussion but they all fit into four main categories, the first thinking and
Concussions are common due to the fact that there is not much protection between the skull and the brain. The medical definition of a concussion is, “ A traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth,” ( What is a Concussion). Concussions can cause temporary loss of consciousness due to the bruising of the brain and the force of the impact. During the impact, “The brain [may] bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes, sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). That is why concussions can have such a lasting impact. Depending on the extent, most concussions only last for a few days to a week, but some can last for months due to the damage. Concussions are put into categories based on how long they are believed to last so doctors know how long to keep athletes out from strenuous activity. “Concussions are graded as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3), depending on such factors as loss of consciousness, amnesia, and loss of equilibrium” (Lava ). With each grade, there are different symptoms and differences in how long they last.
What Are the Symptoms of a Concussion?
Concussions are a problem that nearly all athletes competing in a contact sport will go through. Whether it be boxers, hockey players, skateboarders, or football players, most can usually recognize a concussion. Some say they “See Lights,” or “Hear Ringing,” with over 3000,000 concussions happening in football yearly, concussions can also occur in sports such as gymnastics, cycling, and even martial arts. A concussion by definition is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to one’s head by either a fall, bump, or other injury that results in the shaking of the brain within the skull. It is important to understand what a concussion is, so you can prevent possible long term affects to one’s cognitive
Symptoms can be unnoticed due to the hours it takes for symptoms to begin to occur. Those involved in sports tend to be aware of these symptoms but fail to come forward due to fear of the inability to play the sport. This is most evident in football in high school. When a player is diagnosed with a concussion, they would be removed from the remainder of practice or game(s) and continues to be monitored. Failure to come forward with concussion symptoms can lead to more damage such as hemorrhages. A player that suffered the concussion may seem fine at first, but as the blood builds up, pressure will build up in the skull causing the brain tissue to be compressed (MD, Collo Sean and PhD Low J. Renee). This compression inside the skull will lead to additional brain injury such as unconsciousness and maybe even death. Some warnings signs of this in adults are larger pupils, seizures, unusual behavior etc. Athletes may be followed through his or her recovery with the post-concussion symptom scale. The scale is a seven point Likert scale graded from 0 (having no symptoms) to 6 (most severe symptoms). Athletes that have preinjury depression, can’t sleep at night or they have a attention disorder they won’t be expected to have a score of 0 on the symptom scale before considering returning to play the