The Effects of Concussions on Athletes

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Recreational athletes, competitive athletes, high school athletes, college athletes, and professional athletes all have one thing in common: the risk of a concussion. It's impossible to go a season without one athlete from a team receiving a concussion. The more that these concussions are studied, the more we learn about them, such as their detrimental effects on athletes. Because of the risk of health issues and death that come with concussions, doctors, coaches, athletic trainers, and lawmakers are stepping in to protect athletes of all levels from receiving concussions. Concussions occur time after time throughout different sporting events and many are familiar with the word concussion, but what really is a concussion? A concussion is a head injury that can leave damaging effects on athletes of all sports and ages. Concussions are regularly caused by a hard hit to the head or body that causes the brain to shake inside of the skull. While there is fluid within the skull to protect the brain, when an athlete is hit hard enough, the brain moves to the point of hitting the skull, causing a head injury otherwise known as a concussion (“Concussions”). Terry Adirim, a medical doctor who writes articles for Clinical Pediatrician Emergency Magazine, says that an individual may have many different symptoms after receiving a concussion. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and vomiting, but each of these symptoms do not necessarily happen with every concussion. While many athletes are fine after receiving one concussion, it is the second concussion that can be very unfavorable and even deadly. When an athlete receives a second concussion before the first concussion has fully healed, it ... ... middle of paper ... ...ely come a long way in preventing concussions in athletes of all talent levels and ages. Works Cited Adirim, Terry A. “Concussions in Sports and Recreation.” Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine 8.1 (2007): 2-6. Print. Bartholet, Jeffery. “The Collision Syndrome.” Scientific American 306.2 (2012): 66-71. Print. Brady, Erik. “Changing the Game on Youth Concussions.” USA Today 26 May 2011, Virginia ed.: 1C. Print. "Concussions." WebMD. WebMD, 23 July 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. . Toporek, Bryan. “Concussion Laws Targeting Student-Athletes on Upswing.” Education Week 10 August 2011: 10. Print. “Use Your Head.” American Fitness 29.6 (2011): 52. Print Whiteside, Kelly. “Concussions Are No Fun: Schoolwork Taxing for Injured Athletes.” USA Today. 28 Dec 2010, New Jersey ed.: 1C. Print.

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