Did you know that a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury?
It was the second blow to the head in four days after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was rushed to the hospital after slamming his head on the ground during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 29 — Head Assessment and Management of External Trauma Multiple reports have ignited a national conversation about how best to manage concussions.
About 7% of children experience symptoms of a concussion or brain injury in their lifetime.
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However, the risk increases with age, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
According to a recent research study, an estimated 29% of adults self-report a concussion in their lifetime.
Here we delve deeper into this issue.
What is a concussion?
“Concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury (or mild TBI),” said Dr. Mitul Kapadia, medical director of pediatric rehabilitation and co-director of the Sports Concussion Program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. said.
“It happens when the head moves back and forth with a lot of force from a blow or injury to the head,” he said.
“Patients who have experienced concussion show a complex range of neuronal and metabolic alterations, and the mechanism of injury may be related to nerve shear.”
He told Fox News Digital that this causes chemical changes in the brain, sometimes damaging brain cells.
“Patients who have experienced concussion show a complex range of neuronal and metabolic alterations, and the mechanism of injury may be related to nerve shear,” Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
What are CTEs?
Although loss of consciousness is not a requirement for the diagnosis of concussion, multiple reports indicate that concussions are classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the duration of consciousness and memory loss or amnesia.
Concussion signs and symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms experienced by patients range from “feeling sick” or “feeling down” to headaches, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, or feeling sluggish.
A sign is something that an observer, such as a parent or coach, can see.
Signs include looking stunned, looking confused, answering questions slowly, experiencing personality changes, or having difficulty following instructions.
“Athletic group concussion outlines the following signs and symptoms as ‘red flags’: This means that if an athlete experiences/displays them, they should be transported to the hospital. These signs/symptoms may indicate an injury more serious than a concussion. Dr. Steve Broglio, Director of the University of Michigan Concussion Center, said:
He said these symptoms included pain or tenderness in the neck, double vision, numbness, severe or worsening headaches, seizures or convulsions, loss of consciousness, vomiting, or becoming increasingly restless, agitated or combative.
when to see a doctor
“The biggest thing is to keep players with suspected concussions out of play until they can be evaluated by a licensed medical provider,” Broglio told Fox News Digital. .
If a parent believes a teen may have a concussion, CDC will first remove the teen from play, keep the child out of play on the day the injury occurred, and help the teen We recommend that your child be evaluated by a medical professional.
“The medical professional will ask you detailed questions about your injuries and also perform a comprehensive physical exam to determine if further work-ups are necessary.”
“As a neurosurgeon who treats head injuries, anyone who has suffered a traumatic injury, witnessed a period of unconsciousness, or who is alone and whose details of the injury are vague or confused, obtains It is recommended to be evaluated by a physician in emergency care and [be seen] in the [emergency department]Also [make a] See a doctor,” Gottfried told Fox News Digital.
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“In addition, those who have not lost consciousness but have persistent symptoms such as headaches and neuralgia. [issues] or either [symptoms] We need to evaluate those associated with post-concussion syndrome,” he added.
When is it OK to return to the game?
The medical professional will ask questions about the details of the injury and will also perform a comprehensive physical exam to determine if further work-up is needed, Gottfried said.
“Providers undergo training to fully assess athletes and determine if they are ready to return,” Broglio added.
Washington became the first state in its union to require “allowance to eject and return to play” for young athletes in May 2009, but all 50 states now have similar laws, according to the CDC. is enacting.
Who should have a CT scan?
After the patient has been evaluated, the healthcare provider may decide to order a CT scan for the patient.
“A CT scan of the brain takes pictures to create an image of the brain and can show if there are any fractures or bleeding,” Kapadia told Fox News Digital.
“If you have a concussion, you can’t see it on a CT scan. [these scans] Concussions are not routinely ordered unless doctors are concerned about fractures or bleeding. ”
Gottfried said not everyone being evaluated needs a CT or MRI, and only health care providers who have had a head injury should make this decision.
Monitor patients for signs and symptoms
According to the CDC, concussion symptoms usually occur immediately after the injury, but symptoms may not appear until hours later.
The agency recommends monitoring for signs of concussion immediately after the injury and for several days afterward. .
What is Second Impact Syndrome?
Concussions need to be treated appropriately because the initial injury reduces the brain’s “resilience” and alters its compensatory capacity, Gottfried said.
However, a second head injury before the brain has fully recovered can be fatal in some cases. “Second His Impact Syndrome (SIS), also known as recurrent head injury syndrome, occurs when he experiences a second head injury before he has fully recovered from the first.” says Gottfried.
“The most common scenario is an athlete who has a concussion and returns to sport too soon.”
Several factors can slow recovery from a concussion, including previous concussions, neurological deficits, learning disabilities, and mental health problems.
He noted that some people are genetically predisposed to hypersensitivity to concussions and secondary injuries.
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According to the CDC, there are also factors that slow recovery from a concussion, including previous concussions, neurological disorders, learning disabilities, mental health issues, and family and social stressors.
“A catastrophic secondary impact injury is the result of loss of normal regulation of blood flow to the brain, causing massive brain swelling,” added Gottfried.
“The rise in pressure is rapid and can lead to brain herniation and even death.”
NFL changes concussion protocol
The NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have agreed to change the league’s concussion protocol after Tagovailoa sustained repeated head injuries last month.
According to a joint NFL and NFLPA statement, “After a full review, both parties followed the step-by-step process outlined in the Concussion Protocol, but the results in this case were not what was intended when the protocol was drafted.” concluded that it was not
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The concussion protocol adds a symptom of “ataxia” to the “no-go” symptoms, prohibits the player from returning to the game, and if the player is diagnosed with this condition, receives the follow-up care outlined in the protocol. increase.
It defines ataxia as: [the] Speech dysfunction caused by balance/stability, motor coordination abnormalities, or neurological problems.”