Many of us associate the medical term "concussion" with football, because of the publicity generated when athletes such as Troy Aikman and Steve Young were hurt. But concussions can happen to all of us, from infants through adults.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a temporary mental change, such as feeling confused or disoriented, that results from a head injury. There are three different "grades" of concussions. Grade 1 consists of a temporary change in your mental state, without losing consciousness, which resolves itself within 15 minutes. Grade 2 is similar but it lasts longer than 15 minutes. Grade 3 concussions include any loss of consciousness, regardless of how long that state lasts.
What Causes a Concussion?
Common causes of concussions include sports activities, such as soccer and football; car, bike, and motorcycle accidents; falls, and assaults. Elderly and young children tend to have concussions as a result of falling, while sports-related injuries are more common among teenagers and young adults.
Each year, approximately 300,000 traumatic brain injuries occur in the United States as a result of sports. About 1.5 million people annually in the U.S experience this type of brain injury, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Concussions?
The temporary change in your mental state caused by a concussion may not cause you to become unconscious. Instead, you may feel confused for a short time, or dazed. Other symptoms may include fatigue, a loss of coordination, temporary amnesia, vision problems, and headaches.
What Is Postconcussion Syndrome?
This term refers to symptoms that may occur after a concussion that linger for several weeks or even months. Postconcussion syndrome is more common after a grade 2 or 3 concussion. However, most individuals recover quickly, without residual effects. For those who do experience this syndrome, typical symptoms include problems with memory, headaches, problems with concentration, and related issues.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Concussion
To diagnose a concussion, your healthcare provider will examine the patient and perform various tests, which are based on the severity of the concussion. The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) has developed a set of criteria to diagnose concussions, including:
In addition, be cautious about overindulging in headache medications, which may have associated adverse effects. The main treatment: rest. If it is a sports injury, the patient can play again if there are no more symptoms in the case of a Grade 1 concussion.
If it is a Grade 2 injury, however, the individual should not play again that day and should return only when no symptoms have occurred for at least one week. In contrast, those recovering from a Grade 3 concussion need to wait for one to two weeks, with the shorter interval reserved for those experiencing only a brief loss of consciousness.
Be sure to keep your child from playing sports or engaging in similar athletic activities until your health care provider says that it is safe. Even though your child may plead that he or she feels "just fine" or a competitive coach or school official may urge you to go against your doctor's instructions, it's essential to wait until your doctor has cleared your child.
"It may take less force to sustain a second and subsequent concussions. This is probably why a "bad boxer" keeps getting knocked out," warns Dr. Michael H. Goodman, MD, FAAP, the Acting Chief, Division of Neurology, Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, in Wilmington, DE. And parents need to remember: "A child's health is more important than a game or competition."
What Can Parents Do To Help Children Avoid Concussions?
The number one rule for all individuals is to use protective measures, from wearing seat belts and using car seats in the auto to wearing helmets when playing sports. In addition to ensuring that your children are wearing their helmets when they are involved in activities such as bike-riding and skateboarding, Dr. Ripley feels that parents should request their children to wear helmets when they are participating in any type of activity "where they might fall." The physician also recommends that you teach your children "about other risky activities, such as diving into water of unknown depth."
In addition to "protective headgear," Dr. Goodman believes that it is important to make sure that children involved in sports "understand the rules of the game." Parents may also want to consider "limiting 'competition' at young ages."
Dr. Goodman emphasizes that it is key for parents to check � and double-check � that their children own and properly use protective equipment. Make sure that they "know the rules, play the sport properly, and, most importantly, don't compete at high levels at early ages."
Wondering whether to let your child resume playing soon after a concussion? Consider the way in which some star atheletes have been repeatedly harmed and, in some cases, forced to retire prematurely due to concussions.
"I'm always darkly amused when I hear announcers say that so- and-so 'just had a concussion,'" says Dr. Ripley. "A concussion is a brain injury. I believe that it is a poor example that professional athletes give for returning to play so soon after an injury. I believe that Chris Chandler, the old Falcons quarterback, became a much less effective player due to numerous concussions. Troy Aikmen also sustained a number of concussions which ultimately led to his retirement."
And Dr. Goodman cites the case of hockey player Eric Lindros, who continues to play although "his younger brother retired due to concussions. If Eric Lindros was my son I would not let him continue playing ice hockey."