Post Concussion Syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome is a complex disorder with symptoms can consist of headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritability that can last as little as a week and up to months after a head injury. The causes can be a traumatic blow to the head or neck injuries in which the patient does not have to lose consciousness. The effect of being injured can do permanent damaged to the brain and nervous system. Dealing with Post-concussion syndrome not only can have a physical effect, but a psychological one as well (Mayo clinic page 2).
The cause of Post-concussion is still a mystery. Doctors sometimes have given the diagnosis of P.T.S. or Post traumatic stress syndrome and vice versa. According to the text, Mild Head Injury, “Many Investigators believed that 55% of male hospitalized patients and 61% of female hospitalized patients all had cases of mild head trauma.” Doctors also thought that the patient injuries had to be severe enough for them to lose conscious that can consist of posttraumatic amnesia or temporary loss of motor skills (Mild Head page 9). Sudden impacts to the head and neck areas and sport related injuries all can cause temporary or permanent effects to the brain.
In most cases of post-concussion syndrome, the effects to the brain are temporary, but more severe cases can cause serious brain damaged. To diagnose the severity of the head injury falls under three categories, this is called the Glasgow Coma Scale or G.C.S. The range goes from 15 to 1 scale that has a minimal to permanent damaged levels (Mild Injury page 25). The more severe the concussion, the more damage to the brain and disruptions of the neurotransmitters that send messages to cerebellum which controls muscle tone and memory ...
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...actors of life. This is what happens when you know something is wrong but you can’t describe the feeling. When you have to deal with reality there is no cure for day to day issues.
Works cited Page
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A concussion is defined as temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head or a violent shock from a heavy blow. The force transmitted to the head causes the brain to hit the skull, which causes the brain to swell. The symptoms of a concussion can appear immediately after contact or they may subtle and may not appear right away. The symptoms of a concussion can vary in length. There are many different symptoms to a concussion: "Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion" (Mayo). Other symptoms that may be involved with a concussion include loss of consciousness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, and fatigue. There are also symptoms that may not occur immediately, but may be delayed hours or days after. These symptoms include difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light, and sleep disturbances. An athlete should ...
Moser, R. S., Schatz, P., & Jordan, B. D. (2005). Prolonged effects of concussion in high school athletes. Neurosurgery, 57(2), 300-306.
Researchers and doctors had little information on the proper management and care of someone who sustained a concussion. There were 2,350 participants in this study, with each player being enrolled in any one of the Ivy League schools, University of Virginia, or University of Pittsburgh. Players who experienced a mild head injury during practice or a game were removed from the field to be examined and assessed for “cognitive and psychosocial dysfunction through the use of neuropsychological techniques and self-reported questionnaires up to four times after injury” (Barth, et al., 1989). In order for a player to be diagnosed with a mild head injury, he must have had either a head contact injury or a complete loss of consciousness that lasted under two minutes and displayed some sort of memory and/or attention deficient. The results of Barth’s study showed that there were 195 documented mild head injuries.
The injury is defined as a concussion when “it causes a change in mental status such as amnesia, disorientation, mental fogginess, confusion, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision or loss of consciousness.” (Mayo Clinic, n.d.)
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Many people do not understand that a concussion does not simply go away in a few days, it can last up to a couple months. "Most concussions and other mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) should completely resolve within one to six weeks. Some people, however, experience post-concussion syndrome (PCS) with symptoms lasting longer than this. Post-concussion syndrome can include physical, cognitive, and emotional problems” (Cornell). Most brain injuries take one to six weeks to heal. Although, some people suffer from post-concussion syndrome, this is where the symptoms last a bit longer. Concussions usually aren’t crazily severe but, when they are these injuries can be easily mistaken by other severe brain injuries. "Long-term effects of concussions are very rare. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause symptoms similar to a concussion, but individuals with these TBIs often experience more severe problems with attention and short-term memory, have difficulty performing daily tasks, and report feeling “slower” overall” (Cornell). Even though long-term effects are rather rare they can still occur. Furthermore, concussions can sometimes get confused with severe traumatic brain injuries because, they often have the same symptoms. Long-term concussions can affect the brain and make it difficult to
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The world of sports is filled with great memories, grand moments and at times complete mayhem. There are moments like hitting a Home Run in game 7 of the World Series or memories of scoring an overtime goal during the Stanley Cup finals. However, there are also incredibly low moments when mayhem occurs such as an action or incident that results in a concussion. An injury such as a concussion can ruin your sports career or potentially your ability to function normally in the future. Concussions are caused by blunt force trauma to the head, a fall or an injury that shakes the brain inside the skull. Recovering from a concussion can take weeks, months or even years to heal. For some, it can impair your mental or mobility functions for life.
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Concussions are an injury to the brain caused by bump, or blow to the head or body. They can occur even when you haven’t even been knocked unconscious. Concussions can not be seen, but you can notice when someone has received one. (Center for Disease Control). The symptoms are Headaches, nausea, vomiting, balance problems, blurry vision, and memory problems or confusion. Also difficulty paying attention, bothered by lights or loud noises and feeling sluggish are sure symptoms of a concussion. (CDC 2). Even though concussions can’t be fully prevented, scientists are doing their best to find ways to decrease the amount of concussions that happen per year.
Today, many professional, college and high school athletes throughout our country suffer from a common injury. It is an injury with serious side effects that can permanently change their lives. This injury is a concussion. Concussions are a constant threat in the game of sports. Coaches and athletes were under the assumption that a head injury that didn’t require a trip to the hospital could be ignored. We have been raised in a culture that celebrates hard knocks as a rite of passage, we don’t think twice about the bandages around our heads. (Carroll and Rosner 11). According to the Disease Control and Prevention Center, there are an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports related head injuries in the United States each year. With the increasing number of concussions, the issue is relevant in today’s society. Concussions are a traumatic brain injury. In order to understand this growing issue, we need to become aware of what a concussion is, the testing and treatment that is used and the lifelong effects that concussions can cause. It is important for athletes to know this vital information about concussions in order to keep safe.
In recent years, concussions have taken over the spotlight for sport injuries. It wasn’t long ago that doctors ignored these head injuries and let the players go right back onto the field. Joe DeLamielleure an offensive lineman for the Buffalo bill and Cleveland Browns explained when he played football in the 1970’s he received thousands of blows to the head and believes he has had at least 100 concussions (ESPN). Because the brain is very complex every brain injury is different. Some concussions cause people to lose conciseness while
Boyd, D., Wood, E.G., Wood, S.E. (2014, 2011, 2008). Mastering the world of psychology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. 128-129, 329-330, 335-340. Print.