Cause And Effects Of Concussions Essay

Concussions or traumatic brain injuries are a major issue because they impair brain function and the results can be permanent, impacting the day-to-day functioning of players and their loved ones for the rest of their lives. They are caused by blows to the head and depending on the area(s) of the brain injured and the severity of the trauma, some of the effects include problems with concentration, thinking, memory, vision, balance and coordination (dizziness). Because of the decrease in cerebral blood flow, they also cause sleep disturbances, reduced attention span, headaches, frustration, mood swings and personality changes. Many studies affirm that concussions increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anterograde amnesia, dementia, ALS and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) (Ciccarelli 282-283). The three types of concussions include mild, moderate, and severe and can last anywhere between a few minutes to hours. Because the loss of consciousness is less common and the results are mostly internal, some football players do not even realize they have a concussion. However, every concussion injures players’ brains to some
They happen more frequently than concussions, are less visible, and harder to detect. However, in the long run they may have the same consequences of actual concussions and resemble the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury patients. According to USA today, “researchers at the Cleveland Clinic studied college football players, and found that athletes can experience significant brain damage solely due to continuous head collisions, even when concussion does not occur” (Stone). Even though sub concussions seem minor and unimportant, these can be dangerous to the player’s health and should be taken as seriously as concussions. One of the most severe consequences includes