Concussions Essay

Words: 489
Pages: 2

To gain a clear understanding of the exact details of concussions from the initial injury and the symptoms, the definition should first be understood. A concussion is defined as an alteration in mental status that was caused by a jolt to the head (Omalu et al. 2005). Some symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, trouble sleeping, trouble focusing, noise and light sensitivity, and balance impairments (Guskiewicz et al. 2005). These effects are relevant when one has suffered a concussion because the motor skills of the person are seriously altered causing the simplest tasks to be impossible or difficult. The severity of a concussion is different from person to person and depends on how much force was involved resulting in the jolt to the head. …show more content…
The second concussive jolt does not have to be as serious as the first; however, if the second jolt is more severe then the chance of suffering from SIS is a greater possibility. SIS can ultimately lead to death due to the rapid brain swelling (McCrory). This death possibility should emphasize the importance of taking the healing process from a first concussion seriously. McCrory also states that Second Impact Syndrome is mainly seen in young athletes, which is correlated with the unnecessary return to play before the brain is healed. The athlete wants to return as quickly as possible, but the healing does not lie in his hands. The healing time is directly related to the willingness to follow instructions, which was referenced earlier. The risk of SIS is more prominent in boxing, than in football as described in a study that included thirty-five cases in which only two were not related to boxing. In addition, only one case resulted from the play of football. Therefore, one can conclude football shows less possibilities of suffering from Second Impact Syndrome according to this study. SIS is rarely seen today because the return to play protocol is rigorous. However, the protocol is mainly given to the gut wrenching hits that immediately show concussion-like symptoms. What about the constant jolts of regular hits, also known as sub-concussive