Head Health

"You are supposed to be tough. You are supposed to play through the pain. You are not supposed to cry. We are taught that early on in the game as kids. Tough sport. Brutal sport. Its like the gladiator. People want to see the big hits. They wind up on sports center. And as a player you don't want to admit you are injured."I can really relate to this quote because I have been pushed past my limits with an injury and seen people play through injuries when they should be sitting out. During this article I will be telling you what can happen if you ignore and push through a head injury and the serious effects it can have physically and mentally. First lets talk about what a concussion is... 

 

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What is a concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a hit to the head or body that shakes the brain inside the cranium. When people play contact sports they have an increased chance of getting a concussion.

 

Symptoms

Concussions are not usually life-threatening but there can be some severe symptoms that can last a few hours to others it can last months including: nausea and vomiting, dizziness, balance problems and emotional volatility. Young children can have the same symptoms as older kids/adults, they can also have other symptoms like: crying more then usual; changes in the way they nurse, eat, or sleep; sadder then usual, lack of interest in usual activities and many more. If you notice yourself or someone you know has any of these symptoms call your doctor right away.

 

How to treat concussions:

The treatment you use depends on your symptoms. If your concussion is more severe or you have bleeding in the brain you may need surgery or other procedures. There are other more minor treatments you can use. The doctors will sometimes order imaging tests such as CT scans or an MRI to make sure your brain isn’t bruised or bleeding. Other times the doctor may just prescribe pain relievers. If the doctor sends you home, you may want to ask someone to wake you up every two to three hours to make sure you haven’t fallen into a coma. Taking a break from activities the require concentration such as school work, video games and sports may be the best choice for recovery.

 

Preventions:

To prevent a concussion you need to wear proper headgear and equipment that fits properly during sports and other physical activities. Headgear has been found to reduce the number of concussions in athletes. When you’re in the car you should always wear a seat belt and young children should be sitting in a booster seat. Older people are encouraged to decrease their fall risk by removing random objects off the floor and wearing flat shoes to keep their balance.

 

After concussion:

After a concussion, you may not feel like functioning as well as before the concussion. This is called post concussive syndrome. You may notice that you’re developing new symptoms or you still have symptoms from the injury. Common symptoms of post concussive syndrome include changes in sleep patterns, changes in your personality and dizziness. If you start having any of these symptoms contact your doctor immediately.

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Conclusion:

"You don't realize everything your brain does until it no longer does it".

Your brain is a very important part of your body and when you get a concussion it means you have injured it and you may feel dizzy, nauseous and many other symptoms but they can be treated and prevented. There are many different types of treatments, it depends on your symptoms and how bad your concussion is. You can prevent concussions by wearing appropriate headgear and for elders decreasing your fall risk. Always remember you only have one brain so take care of it.