21 Sep Dangerous sports and concussions
Warning: Sports can be dangerous
Most fatalities occur from bicycling accidents, which is why it is so important to wear a helmet.
But any sport that involves contact, hard equipment or extreme motion can be dangerous. So you were close Nicki: football is considered one of the more dangerous sports. Contact sports contribute to the third most common injury: concussions…
Basically a concussion is defined as a head injury with a temporary loss of brain function. It occurs when the soft tissue of the brain SLAMS up against the hard protective bone of the skull (yes, slightly gross). It can cause a variety of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms, including death if not monitored and handled properly.
Indications that you may have suffered a concussion are:
*Sensitivity to light
*Fainting or light headed-ness
*Pain in the area where you were hit
*Any significant change in behavior
*Loss of consciousness at the time of impact or afterwards
If you experience any of these symptoms after hitting your head (no matter how small it may have seemed to you) SEE YOUR DOCTOR!
What will the doctor do?
Your doctor may prescribe a CAT Scan and MRI to rule out more extensive damage to the brain. Generally, treatment involves monitoring and rest… from both physical and cognitive activities. Yes, you get an excuse to go easy on the homework, but trust us, it’s not worth it. Concussions can be a very serious thing. Although most symptoms go away within three weeks, they can last up to a year.
Be smart about treatment, this is your brain. Do NOT return to physical activity until you know it is safe, as recommended by your doctor. People who have had one concussion seem to be more susceptible to another, especially if the new injury occurs before symptoms from the previous concussion have not completely gone away. So don’t return to sports until you know you are fully recovered.
Well, hang on a sec, before deciding that, you may want to check out our next post….
Have you ever had a concussion or been knocked unconscious? Tell us about it.