Concussions. They seem to be the hot topic circling around the sports industry and throughout the media. As more players come out with serious lasting side effects from concussion injuries, it puts sports and its physicality into the spotlight.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines concussions as, “a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.” (Center for Disease Control )
So what makes concussions so serious and harmful? Well, to sum it up quite simply they are injuries to your brain. The brain maintains a delicate balance of chemicals and is surrounded in the skull by fluid. When it is hit, the brain is bounced around and may hit the skull, which also causes the chemicals to become out of whack. Even more deadly is when people don’t allow their concussions to fully heal and then get hit a second time. This is called Second Impact Syndrome and the effects are even deadlier. (Concussion Info)
According to a CNN article, the CDC reports almost 4 million concussions caused by sports related injuries each year, with many occurring at the high school level. There are very little regulations at school on how to control, prevent and how to also identify these serious injuries, making concussions a real issue in society. Since many of the symptoms are relatively common such as nausea, dizziness, and headaches, parents and coaches are unprepared on how to recognize and treat this type of injury. Thus, athletes return to play much sooner and risk even more serious brain injuries and lifelong effects. ( CNN Concussion Article)
Max Conradt, was a high school quarterback, who collapsed after a football game one night after receiving a devastating hit. It was nothing he wasn’t used to but doctors concluded that over the course of two weeks, he had numerous head injuries that went undiagnosed which caused significant and devastating brain injuries. Three brain surgeries later, Conradt survived his brain injuries but with the mental capacity of a 9 year old. As of 2010, he was living in an assisted living home, struggling with forming basic motor skills and dealing with depression. Once a high school football star, his life was changed forever by the game he loved. (http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/03/concussions.teen.brains/)
This devastating story, while it may be extreme, shows just how serious concussions are. Many schools have began establishing baseline tests that athletes are required to take at the beginning of a season, so doctors, trainers and coaches can gauge head injuries and try to diagnose concussions before it is too late. These types of injuries are seen at all levels, even the professional. Just as of a week ago, former NHL players filed a lawsuit claiming that the NHL did little to protect players from concussions. The NFL also recently paid $765 million in claims to thousands of former players suffering from dementia and other concussion related injuries. (http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10036795/former-players-sue-nhl-concussions)
Needless to say, concussions are no joke and are slowly but surely becoming the silent killers of athletes and their careers. Whether new equipment, new rules or new testing needs to be developed something needs to be changed. Coming from a sports dominated household and as a former athlete myself, I know how important sports can be to one’s life. However, when they start negatively impacting your lifelong health, something needs to be changed. Nothing is that important and until people start realizing that, these injuries like Max’s will keep on occurring and changing people’s lives forever.
References:
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10036795/former-players-sue-nhl-concussions
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/03/concussions.teen.brains/
http://www.healtheast.org/bethesda/outpatient-services/concussion-clinic/about-concussions.html
My roommate is a kinesiology major and told me how bad concussions are extremely dangerous with some athletes even killing their families due to it. Concussions are serious injuries since they deal with the brain and people need to take them more seriously than they do. When I was in high school I helped with the basketball team and when one of the guys got a concussion he was quick to say he was fine when in reality he was severely injured. Athletes are the most prone to injuries to the head and they need to conscious of the fact that they need to take care of themselves. I completely agree with your blog.