Did you know that concussions are a type of traumatic brain injuries? According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 7% of children have experienced symptoms of concussions or brain injuries in their lifetime. According to a recent study, 29% of adults reported having suffered a concussion at some point in their lives.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from the Miami Dolphins warms before the game against Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 29, 2022.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images). Here’s a deeper dive on the topic. “A concussion (or mild traumatic brain injury) is a type mild traumatic brain injury (or mild TBI),” Dr. Mitul Kapadia, medical directors of pediatric rehabilitation, and codirector of the sports concussion programs at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, said. He explained that concussions are caused by a blow to the head, or injury that causes the head to move back and forth with a lot force. “Concussions can cause complex neuronal and metabolic changes in patients who have suffered them. This mechanism of injury is likely to be related to shearing nerves.” Fox News Digital reported that the concussion causes chemical changes in brains and sometimes damages to brain cells. According to multiple reports, “Patients who have suffered a concussion exhibit a complex range neuronal and metabolism changes, and the mechanism for injury is likely associated with shearing nerves.” Dr. Oren Gottfried, professor and clinical vice chair in neurosurgery at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, stated that a concussion can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on how long the patient is conscious and how much memory loss or amnesia persists. The symptoms of concussion can be described as “just not feeling right” and “feeling down”, as well as blurry vision, difficulty concentrating and dizziness.
The Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (#1) throws a pass during the first quarter of an NFL football match against the Buffalo Bills. This was Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens.
(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell). “The Concussion in Sport Group has outlined these signs and symptoms as’red flags’. This means that any athlete suspected of having a brain injury should be removed from play until they can be evaluated by a licensed physician,” Broglio stated to Fox News Digital. The CDC recommends that parents remove their child from play and keep them out of the arena until the injury is treated. A health care professional will ask about the details of the injury, and perform a thorough physical exam to determine if further treatment is necessary. “As a neurosurgeon, I would recommend that anyone who has suffered from a serious head injury, including a period of loss of consciousness, or who is alone and unclear on the details, to be seen by an urgent care doctor, or make a same-day appointment to your physician,” Gottfried said to Fox News Digital. LITTLE LEAGUE PLAYER SUFFERS SERIOUS HEAD INSURANCE AFTER SUFFECTING FROM BUNK BEED, MAKING ‘TREMENDOUS PROGRESS’ A CT scan may be ordered for a patient after they have been evaluated. Kapadia explained to Fox News Digital that a CT scan of the brain can be used to show if there is bleeding or a fracture.
A CT or MRI is not necessary for everyone who is being evaluated, according to one medical professional. However, only a provider with experience in head injuries should make this determination.
(iStock). A CT scan cannot determine if you have a brain injury. These scans are not routinely ordered unless a doctor is concerned about a fracture or bleed. “Gottfried said that not all patients who are evaluated will need a CT or MRI. However, only a specialist in head injuries should make this determination. The CDC recommends that you monitor the patient for signs and symptoms. Although concussion symptoms usually appear right away after an injury, they can sometimes develop over time. If symptoms become worsening, the patient should be taken to the emergency room immediately. A second injury to the brain before it has had time to fully recover can sometimes prove fatal. Gottfried explained that second impact syndrome (SIS), also known by repetitive head injury syndrome, is when an individual suffers a second head injury after undergoing a complete recovery from the first. The most common scenario is when athletes sustain a concussion but return to their sport too soon. A concussion can also be delayed by factors such as previous concussions, neurological disorders, learning difficulties, or mental health issues. He said that a subset is genetically predisposed to an excessive response to concussion, as well as secondary injuries. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER. Other factors that can delay recovery from a concussion include neurological disorders, learning difficulties, mental health issues, and family or social stressors. Gottfried said that the second impact injury is a catastrophic result of the loss of normal blood flow to the brain. This causes massive brain swelling. “The rapid rise in pressure can lead to brain herniation or death. NFL modifies its concussion protocol. The NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA), agreed to modify the league’s concussion protocols after Tagovailoa sustained multiple head injuries last month. “Following a thorough review, the parties determined that although the Concussion Protocol was followed, this case was not as intended,” a joint NFL and NFL Players Association statement stated.