High School Sports Responsible for Catastrophic Brain Injuries - Health

For much of our youth, high school sports are a big part of growing up. Did you know that 20% of high school athletes sustain traumatic brain injuries every season? That includes 60,000 concussions, over 60% of which are caused by football injuries alone.

The hidden danger of concussionsA concussion can lead to second impact syndrome. Second impact syndrome occurs when someone who has already suffered a brain injury, even a very mild one, incurs a second brain injury before the first one has completely healed. It can set off a chain of events inside the brain that can cause long term damage or rapid death.

Concussions often go unnoticed or ignored. You can get a concussion without passing out.

Adolescents are significantly more likely than adults to experience second impact syndrome when they incur a second injury.

PreventionRecognizing brain injury is the key to preventing long term damage and death. Players who are injured need immediate attention, and more importantly, they absolutely must not return to play until their injuries are completely healed.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommends that coaches look for the following warning signs:

Symptoms observed by coach: Appears dazed or stunned Is confused about assignment Forgets plays Is unsure of game, score, or opponent Moves clumsily Answers questions slowly Loses consciousness Shows behavior or personality changes Can't recall events prior to hit Can't recall events after hit

Symptoms reported by player: Headache Nausea Balance problems or dizziness Double or fuzzy vision Sensitivity to light or noise Feeling sluggish Feeling foggy or groggy Concentration or memory problems Confusion

Teenagers and brain injuriesTeenagers' brains are in a state of rapid development. Injury during adolescence can actually do more harm than a brain injury in a child or an adult.

Identity is developed during these years and injury to the brain while identity is developing can cause low self esteem and a radically altered sense of self.

Brain injury during adolescence can interfere with sexual development and cause permanent sexual dysfunction.

Brain injuries during high school are more likely to out an end to education than injuries earlier in childhood. Brain injuries cause cognitive, concentration, and memory problems. Often school performance drops before the student is even aware of the injury.

Teenagers with brain injuries may also develop emotional and behavioral problems including: Anger Depression Suicide Violent behavior Sleep disorders Substance abuse Legal problems

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