You’re decked out in your favorite NFL teams attire cheering them on when you see two players collide. While the two players may appear fine, more often than not they have suffered traumatic brain injuries without even being aware.

Approximately every 21 seconds, someone in the United States receives a head/brain injury (Kids Health) and an astonishing 261 diagnosed concussions during preseason and regular-season practices and games combined in the year 2012 (CNN)

So what is a concussion and how does it affect the brain? How many of you have the occasional headache, maybe even a migraine? Well, in simple terms a concussion is a more severe and dangerous headache. However, there are far more damaging affects to the brain. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines a concussion as “A concussion is 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.” (CDCP)

There are two defined types of concussions: simple and complex. A person affected by a simple concussion is most likely to whose symptoms are typically relieved within ten days. On the other hand, a complex headache occurs when symptoms do not stop after ten days. Those inflicted with complex headaches often pass out for more than one minute, experience seizures, and usually had had previous concussions. (CDCP)

It is important to understand what symptoms may when someone is affected by a concussion. CNN informs us that it is common for one to experience “imbalance, headache, confusion, memory loss, loss of consciousness, vision change, hearing change, mood change, and fatigue” (CNN)

In order to comprehend how a concussion affects the brain you have to understand how the brain works, relatively speaking. The brain consists soft tissue that is cushioned by spinal fluid, which is incased by a hard projective skull. So, when the head is hit, even slightly, the brain can bang against the skull leading to bruising of brain, nerve cell injury, and tearing of blood vessels. It is now becoming evident that concussions do not only have short term affects but long term as well.

WebMd reported a study performed by neuroscientists at the Mind Research Network in Albuquerque compared fifty patients who suffered a concussion and fifty healthy patients. Interestingly, despite having recovered, patients suffering concussions continued to show brain abnormalities, , four months after the injury. This raises the question if athletes who suffer such injuries should be allowed to continue physical activity? Andrew Mayer, a researcher in this study, states that, “just because you feel healed does not mean you are”

Last August the National Football League agreed to pay $765 million to settle claims by thousands of retired NFL players. However, months later the NFL still faces repercussions. PBS’ Frontline states, “In 2013, legends such as Brett Favre, Tony Dorsett, Terry Bradshaw and Harry Carson all came out to discuss how concussions have affected their lives” There have been long term affects in numerous players that are just starting to be found out. For example, an autopsy done on Jovan Belcher, former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, who shot and killed his girlfriend and himself, suggests he had severe brain damage due to concussions, which could have contributed to his horrific actions.

Although concussions occur in athletes, it can happen to anyone, thus it is important to recognize the serious short term and long term affects that can be dire to one’s brain.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/first_aid/concussions.html

http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20131120/concussions-damage-to-brain-lingers-after-symptoms-fade-study

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/concussion-watch/

http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/