According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 300,000 sports-related concussions occur annually in the United States. About 34 percent of college football players have had one concussion, and 20 percent have had more than one.
Each year, 40,000 high school football players nationwide suffer concussions.
With the start of football season comes the reminder that injuries and concussions may result with the participation in contact sports – whether you’re playing at Jones AT&T Stadium or in the back yard.
A concussion is a brain injury that occurs as a result of a blow to the head. Many people have the misconception that a concussion has occurred only when you have loss of consciousness, said Steven Berk, M.D., dean of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine.
Concussions can lead to brain swelling and sometimes death - even with subtle signs.These symptoms can include:
Memory loss.
Confusion.
Nausea or vomiting.
Dizziness.
Fatigue.
Difficulty sleeping.
Headaches or balance problems.
Blurred vision.
It may take up to three hours or in some cases a week before symptoms appear.
Once you have been diagnosed with a concussion, it is recommended to have a full exam before returning to any sports activity. Serious brain injuries could occur if a person sustains a second concussion and has not totally recovered from the initial injury.