Article Contributed on: 4/12/2008 11:47:38 AM
There are over 300,000 concussions in the U.S. and more that go by unnoticed or untreated. Very often, mild concussions are considered a trivial injury and the athlete is allowed to "return to play" which is very dangerous. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, impaired orientation, concentration, memory loss. More severe symptoms include loss of consciousness or breathing, vomiting, or seizures.
Concussions are traumatic head injuries that occur from mild or severe blows to the head. Even mild concussions can have serious, long term effects. Repeated, cumulative head injuries can alter memory processes. A concussion is caused by a severe head trauma where the brain moves violently within the skull so that all the brain cells fire at once, like a seizure. The younger the athlete, the longer the recovery.
Bleeding into the brain can occur with any blow to the head, whether it causes loss of consciousness or not. If an athlete has received a blow to the head, he should be observed for possible signs indicating internal bleeding or brain damage.
If repetitive vomiting, unequal pupil size, confusion, unusual fatigue "I just want to go to sleep", in and out of consciousness, seizures or coma are observed the patient should be taken to the emergency room, IMMEDIATELY!
No matter what degree of safety the protective gear or helmet may provide the athletes will continue to get injured. Force equals mass times acceleration. Today's athletes are bigger, stronger and faster. The protective gear gives a false sense of security, power and protection, a feeling of invincibility.
"A high school athlete with a history of multiple concussions is likely to experience symptoms of brain injury, unconsciousness, loss of memory."