Concussions

The Effect Concussions have on the Brain and Body
Timmy Moynihan
Mrs. Settle
Psychology 201
April 18, 2011

The Effect Concussions have on the Brain and Body
A concussion can be considered a very serious head injury and should not be taken lightly.  A concussion is “jarring of the brain sufficient to result in a momentary disruption of brain function.  A single concussion usually does not cause permanent damage, but repeated ones may” (Trull, 511).  Concussions can occur from a sports related head injury, a fall, car accident, or physical violence.  Once you sustain a concussion, you are more susceptible to sustaining another.  If you have received multiple concussions, it is possible that you can be diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, where concussive symptoms can last from 3-8 months after the head injury.
Research has shown that “more than 1,000,000 mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur each year in the United States”, “more than 300,000 sports related concussions occur each year: more than 60,000 concussions occur at the high school level, with football accounting for the majority of these” (Majerske, Mihalik, Ren, Collins, Reddy, Lovell, Wagner, 2008).  Judging from these statistics, mild traumatic brain injuries occur very frequently in our society today, and many people suffer each year.  Most people are not properly educated on concussions and resultantly can hurt themselves more by returning to the playing field to early.  When Athletes prematurely return to the playing field without taking the time to properly heal a Second Impact Syndrome can occur, ”which can cause major long-lasting brain damage, disability or even death” (Is Soccer bad for Children’s heads, 7).  It is extremely important for Athletes to take proper precautions before returning to the athletic field.  There are certain guidelines and precautions to follow before athletes return to the playing field.  The rules also differ for athletes that have lost consciousness and...