According to a recent article on the Modern Mom Web site, up to 3.8 million Americans suffer from sports and recreation related concussions. That makes concussions the most common brain injury by far. This year’s Brain Injury Awareness Month has focused primarily on concussion awareness and understanding. Long misunderstood as minor injuries of little consequence, multiple concussions have effects that add up in the brain, leading to sometimes debilitating experiences when not properly diagnosed and treated. In addition, suffering one concussion makes you more likely to suffer another, and another.
Concussions can happen even in the absence of external head injury. Thousands of soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan can attest to that fact. Roadside bomb blasts are responsible for numerous cases of brain injury, even when soldiers never hit their head or sustained any external bodily damage. Neurosurgeon David M. McKalip, M.D. told Modern Mom, “Even if you don’t hit your head, you could have sustained a concussion. It happens if you’ve been indirectly hit somewhere on the body – the force can be transmitted to the head, causing a concussion.”
McKalip also commented on the importance of recognizing concussions as potentially serious brain injuries. He said, “In most cases, signs and symptoms may be noticeable right away. In other cases, it could take days or weeks before any sign is present so if someone experiences a blow to the head or body, it’s best to see a healthcare provider sooner rather than later just in case,” the article reported.
The article described some commons situations in which concussions occur in underage children, including football, soccer, basketball, bicycling, and playground accidents. Some symptoms of a possible concussion include, “Headache that won’t go away, Memory issues, Concentration issues or being easily confused, Slower thinking, speaking, acting or reading, Tired, lack of energy or motivation, Light-headed, dizzy, lack of balance, Nausea, Sensitivity to light or sound and Ringing in the ears or loss of sense of smell or taste,” according to the article.
It is best to take the time to learn how to prevent, recognize, and seek treatment for brain injuries before getting caught unprepared by a sudden accident in your family or community. Some ways to prevent brain injuries include wearing helmets when appropriate to sporting activities, wearing seatbelts in automobiles, staying healthy and strong, and exercise caution when choosing places for your children to play.
References:
McKalip, Dr. David. (March 10, 2010) “It’s Not Just a Concussion: March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.” Retreived on March 12, 2010 from the Modern Mom Web site: http://www.modernmom.com/article-4827-its-not-just-a-concussion-march-is-brain-injury-awareness-month/
