Second Impact Syndrome Research Paper

Recently over the previous decades, concussions have increasingly received attention in the world of sports. A concussion is a serious head injury that can happen to any player, and in just about any sport. Indeed, it has been happening to a countless number of athletes for centuries. However, it is also important to note that a concussion can also take place outside of sports, meaning it can happen to anybody. For instance, there have been incidents where a person tripped while running, fell, and the impact of their head’s contact with the ground has caused a concussion. Or, in a car accident many front-seat passengers, or even the driver, have slammed their heads against the dashboard/steering wheel, also possibly resulting in a concussion.

Imagine being the MVP of an all star sports team, then suffering a concussion from a very competitive game or tournament. No matter what sport an athlete plays or how skilled they are at it, there is always going to be a possibility of injury. Concussions are an injury with serious side effects and can permanently end any star's career. Today, many young athletes suffer from sport related concussions. An estimated 3.8 million recreational and athletic concussions occur annually in the United States, according to statistics in 2012 (Concussion and Sports). Concussions are high on the rise and make athletes very vulnerable and prone to them. Among male athletes, sports resulting in the most concussions include football, ice hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, and soccer. For female athletes, soccer, lacrosse, and basketball were recorded for the sports that resulted in the most concussions. Youth athletes who have suffered one concussion, onset greater chances of experiencing more.

Traumatic brain injuries affect all those who play in physical sports. One study says, “They can cause symptoms such as loss of consciousness, confusion, and headache, as well as long-term side effects.” (“Sports-Related”). The long-term side effects of these traumatic injuries have led spectators and doctors to speculate the dangers of head on collision in sports. Furthermore, concussions lead to TBI which leads to depression and problems with their functioning. Brain injuries have led to famous NFL players committing suicide and losing their families and

“CTE is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma” (BU “What is CTE”) This has been especially found in athletes linked to football and boxing with a long history of concussions. However CTE cannot be diagnosed until death, so players will never know they had it. The other reason for the publicity of concussions is SIS. Second Impact Syndrome is if a player has been injured and they sustain a second, even mild, blow to the head. “(SIS) occurs when a person with a concussion, even a very mild one, suffers a second blow before fully recovering from the first. The brain swelling and increased intracranial pressure that can result is potentially fatal” (Davidson, Atkins, and Longe). 95% of repeat concussions occur within 10 days of the first, and 75% within 1 week (“Head Injuries”). Because the vessels in the brain take about 15 days to heal, the player is at higher risk for another concussion or the vessels bursting. A burst vessel can result in death. Without thorough evaluation, athletes are especially vulnerable to much more serious

Right after receiving a concussion, the symptoms can prove to be very short term and only a temporary thing. (According to Brainline, a few symptoms can include nausea, confusion, increasing headache pains, and even one dilated pupil (“Facts About”)))). These symptoms do not seem very convincing to be dangerous to someone’s life but the long term effects of a head injury can be severe and life threatening, and life altering. For example, according to Nordqvist, he states that after football and hockey players receive a concussion, their brain waves become abnormal and strange, causing your attention skills to be deterred (Nordqvist para 7). These long term effects are extremely similar to Parkinson’s disease. Concussions are very dangerous, regardless if the effects are long term or short term, so they should be taken seriously. Football is known as a violent and barbaric sport among modern society due to all the injuries that have happened in the course of its history. Among all mainstream sports, football averages the most head injuries recorded in seasons across the nation. ((((According to Brainline, concussions in football make up 60 percent of injuries among all high school competitive sports (“Concussions and”)))). Ultimately, football is the most dangerous sport among all mainstream sports in both highschool and professional

The concentration on concussions in sports has elevated in the past few years given the number of sports figures who have passed away all too soon as a result of the studies conducted after their passing. The severity of the damage concussions can cause is still to be proven, but prevention should be a topic that is top of mind for anyone who participates in sports, from youth to professionals.

Complex concussions, on the contrary, do result in tenacious symptoms and can affect brain function long term. The expansions risk for complications, such as swelling or bleeding in the brain, seizures, and post-concussion syndrome (e.g., persistent headache, dizziness, or blurred vision), is seen with complex concussions. Severe concussions, and the incident of one receiving multiple concussions, is characterized as

A reportable concussion had been described as change in brain function induced by trauma. It was demonstrated by: first, altered consciousness, including being amnesic, confused, or rendered insentient. Second, symptoms and signs usually accompanying post-concussion syndrome, such as, persistent headaches, impaired balance, syncope, cognitive dysfunction, hearing loss, blurred vision, drowsiness, lethargy, fatigue, memory disturbance, and difficulty in carrying out routine activities (Casson, Viano and Powell 471). The Concussion Legacy Foundation disclosed that CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by brain trauma, had been diagnosed among football players from more than 100 college football programs (Concussion Legacy Foundation). Furthermore, researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs discovered that the brain tissue of 131 out of 165 football players, at all levels, had tested positive for CTE (Schumaker). Concussions are the primary cause of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among football players.

Many of the famous sports today are played with great enjoyment, however, contact injuries can always occur at any time. Many of these injuries are concussions. Couple of years back studies showed concussions were not a major subject to be dealt with, but until later this idea was proven wrong. A simple Concussion can change many things in your life even the way you act. Many have died due to multiple major concussions even famous athletes. Young high school athletes are starting their sports journey and face these same injuries and when it happens it should be dealt with very seriously.

In the recent years, concussions have become a common accident related to various types of sports around the globe. A concussion is a traumatic injury of the brain, they can also be as a result of a sudden blow on the body. Such a blow may cause the head to jerk back and forth in a rapid motion. This may cause a bounce or twist within the skull, which may over stretch the brain, cause cell damage and alter chemical functioning within the brain. The occurrence of such changes within the brain leads it to vulnerability to injury and increased sensitivity. Concussions in athletes are a common scenario, and some instances may pass unnoticed making such cases to be very dangerous.

Middle School Sports get more competitive every year as the kids get more specialized in their sport that they are doing. They are willing to do anything to get a win for their school. Including sacrificing their body to get a charge in basketball, or dive to get the ball in volleyball, and probably the most dangerous tackling and butting heads in football. All these sports can cause serious damage to their brains and hurt their grades in the process.

Sports-related concussions might just be the biggest worry for any athlete at any level. Concussions are something that just about every athlete typically deals with at some point in their sports career. Everyone knows that injuries occur when you play sports, especially concussions,. Which can sideline an athlete for weeks or even forever. Many student-athletes have experienced this issue that can easily be resolved from informative training that is well organized. Many athletes have lost their lives because of untreated concussions that are not taking seriously. Concussions can be prevented or be reduced if we are required to go through intense and beneficial Training in high school. Concussion training can help athletes diagnose a concussion,

However, some people can almost die like Korf Breckenridge. In 2005 Korf Breckenridge was playing a high school football."Breckenridge limps while walking the sidelines at a football game slurring his words"(Magic Valley, 2011). He was soon taken to the hospital for further testing. Late doctors found out that "Breckenridge suffered 2nd darer impact syndrome, he struggles to remember anything for more then 15 minutes" (Magic Valley, 2011). Secondary impact syndrome is the worst symptom you can receive. What it is, is when you receive a concussion prior to second concussion and can cause permeant brain damage.

Football is the most American of all of the sports we play. We have good memories of playing catch and watching games with our friends, however, there is a darker side to this all-American sport, the damage done to the brains of the players.

More now than ever athletes are being watched out for when there is trauma to the brain. After multiple cases of poor treatment to concussions parents and doctors are cracking down on letting concussions not be a big deal. As more studies advance, it is discovered that every case is different. The range is created by severity, past experience with trauma, and how the patient heals. Concussions in sports can range in severity, and how they affect each individual over time depending on times of impact.