Frequently Asked Questions:

How likely is it for an athlete to suffer a concussion?

An athlete can suffer from a concussion by receiving a relatively hard hit to the head,
making athletes very susceptible to concussions if they participate in contact sports.
Studies show that currently over 4 million sports related brain injuries of mild to
moderate severity occur in the U.S each year.
How can concussions affect
your brain in the long term?
There are two ways in which
concussions may affect a persons brain;
firstly, the more concussions a person
suffers from the greater the likelihood of
severely damaging neurological
functions like memory and speech. This
can progress into what is known as
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
(CTE), which is a progressive
degenerative disease and can lead to
symptoms such as dementia, memory
loss, confusion, and depression to name
a few. Second impact syndrome (SIS) is
another affect of concussions.

What is Second Impact Syndrome?
Second impact syndrome occurs when a person suffers a second concussion before the
symptoms of a previous concussion have fully gone away, leading to a rapid and usually fatal
swelling of the brain. The control of blood flow in the brain is lost in this instance, which leads
to this enormous swelling of the brain. The few people that survive SIS, are left severely
disabled.

What can be done to reduce the effects of repetitive brain trauma
(damage)?
A simple yet effective way to reduce the effects of repetitive brain damage is by educating
coaches, parents and players of the signs and symptoms of concussions. As a parent or coach,
two simple steps that can be used as preventative measures are to provide each player with a
medical evaluation before playing, and educate players of the symptoms of concussions.

What are the symptoms of a concussion?
The diagnosis of a potential concussion can include one or several of the following symptoms:
1. Headache and fogginess
2. Moodiness and nausea/vomiting
3. Sleep disturbance and sensitivity to light
4. Slurred or incoherent speech and inability to remember recent or past events




What is method is recommended to check for concussions of head
injuries?
Both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and computed tomographies (CT) can be used
to check the brain for any damage or abnormalities. However, computed tomographies are
more recommended out of the two due to its enhanced sensitivity to detecting bleeding in the
brain. Detecting the bleeding in the brain is crucial for preventing second impact syndrome.

What steps should be taken if an
athlete suffers from a concussion?
If a player is believed to have sustained a
concussion the following list of steps should be used
for optimal safety:
Take the athlete out of the game
Have the athlete evaluated by a health
provider
Only allow the athlete to return to play
when they have been fully cleared by a
medical professional

Sources:
Zeigier, T. Concussions in Sports. SportsMed. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from
http://www.sportsmd.com/articles/id/22.aspx#sthash.4o5wRqMU.dpbs
Hudson, M. Concussions in Sports. Issues in Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=UqNxAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&
dq=concussions+in+sports&ots=-afBpVnyg9&sig=PPmBP3F4y3o5ONNshGr-
7Z2Hm0o#v=onepage&q=concussions%20in%20sports&f=false
Mendelson, W. (2014, June 16). Young athletes risk a lasting blow from
concussions..Young athletes risk a lasting blow from concussions.. Retrieved June 17,
2014, from http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=206365
Concussions in Sports. (2009, January 1). . Retrieved June 17, 2014, from
http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/concussions-in-sports




How can you tell when a person/athlete is suffering from secondary impact
syndrome?
When a person suffers from second impact syndrome they initially look stunned from the
impact, and quickly thereafter lose consciousness. After losing consciousness there is a loss
of eye movement, dilated pupils, coma, and then respiratory failure.

What can one do to prevent second impact syndrome?
To prevent SIS the same precautionary measures that should be taken after receiving a
concussion should be taken. Legislation is currently working at both the national and state
levels to ensure that athletes do not return to play a sport on the same day that they suffer
a concussion, and more importantly that they get cleared by a medical professional.

Reflective note:
These frequently asked questions are intended for parents, athletes, and anyone interested,
in order to educate themselves about concussions and the neurological damage one may
endure due to repetitive brain trauma. It will be featured in a sports/fitness magazine such
as health and fitness.