September 10, 2015
Football Mania May Lead to Injury
Go Pack Go! It’s that time of year again, kids are back in school and the most loved sport in America is beginning, yes Football is here! Like many of you reading, Football is a huge priority for you and your family. Whether you have children in the sport or are a die hard fan that watches every NFL game, Football season can take up a large majority of your time. I will be the first to admit that once Football season begins, my schedule does too. I’m a huge UW-Badger fan and try to spend most of my weekends cheering on the Badgers. Most families would attest to encouraging their kids to play Football or a similar sport. The sport teaches you great skills that can sometimes only be learned on the field. But what if I told you high impact sports, specifically Football can not only lead to injury, but can also effect your children later in life?
If you’re a “Football Family” you’ve seen the injuries, and are well versed in what concussions are. For those of you who aren’t however, this type of injury can be severe and should be watched closely. Whether you are a three sport athlete or fall accidentally, concussions can happen to anyone.
Check out this video demonstrating the severity of this sport and repercussions that can occur from it: Football Dangers- Bennet Omalu
Now I’m not writing about this to petrify anyone or scold you for putting your kid in Football. What I am saying, is to pay attention to the signs if your child experiences a head injury and to make sure your school’s athletic department is up to code on their concussion procedures.
Listed below is information regarding Concussions and what to look out for:
Concussion
Sometimes called a mild traumatic brain injury, a concussion is caused by a blow or a jolt to the head. The injury keeps the brain from working normally. Symptoms of a concussion may last less than a day or may linger for months or longer.
Many of the cases of concussion that require emergency treatment are because of falls, motor vehicle injuries, assaults, and sports injuries. Children, young adults, and older adults are at especially high risk for concussions and may take longer to recover after a concussion.
Facts about concussions
Millions of traumatic brain injuries occur in the U.S. each year, but most don’t require a visit to the hospital. People who have had concussions before are more likely to have them again.
Symptoms
These are symptoms of a possible concussion:
- Headache
- Vomiting or nausea
- Trouble thinking normally
- Memory problems
- Trouble walking
- Dizziness
- Vision problems
- Fatigue
- Mood changes
- Changes in sleep patterns
These symptoms may occur right away. But some may not start for weeks or even months after the injury.
Diagnosis
To diagnose a concussion, your doctor will probably ask you a variety of questions. Be sure to say if you lost consciousness and report any other symptoms. The doctor will also want to know how the injury occurred and where you hit your head.
You may also be asked questions to test your memory and asked to do certain tasks to show how well your brain is functioning. Your doctor may also ask your friends or family questions about your symptoms and the injury.
Images of your brain using CT or MRI scans may be taken and evaluated.
Treatment
An important part of treatment for a concussion is getting plenty of rest, both sleep at night and naps or rest breaks during the day if needed. Your doctor will probably tell you to avoid certain physical activities and sports while you recover and may suggest medicine to take if you have a headache.
If your symptoms don’t go away in a few days or if they get worse, you may need to see a doctor who specializes in concussions.
Prevention
You can take a number of steps to help reduce your risk for a concussion or prevent it in your children:
- Wear a seat belt every time you’re in a motor vehicle.
- Make sure your children use the proper safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt.
- Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Wear a helmet for activities such as riding a bicycle or motorcycle, playing contact sports, skiing, horseback riding, and snowboarding.
- Reduce your risk for falls by eliminating clutter in your home, removing slippery area rugs, and installing grab bars in the bathroom if needed, especially for older adults.
Managing concussions
Follow your doctor’s directions about avoiding sports, physical education classes, and activities such as running and bicycling while you are recovering. You should also limit activities that require you to concentrate heavily. This includes taking tests if you are in school or doing tasks at work that require intense focus. You may also need to take rest breaks during the day. As your symptoms go away, you may be able to go back to your normal activities.
If you have symptoms or problems that last more than three months, you may have a problem called postconcussion syndrome. Discuss this possibility with your doctor.
For more information about Concussions in recent news visit, CDC
Source: Vox Science and Health