Preventing concussions is as important as managing them. A concussion is an injury to the brain that occurs due to trauma such as a blow to the head or falling down. The brain is one of the most intricate organs of a human body and is protected by a skull and spinal fluid. The function of the spinal fluid is to make sure that the brain does not collide with the skull. Your brain can collide with your skull if a lot of external pressure or force is exerted on the skull. Most people have the common misconception that you can easily ascertain whether you have a concussion or not, however this is not true.
In rare cases an individual who has suffered from a concussion will lose consciousness and will temporary face memory loss. In many scenarios a patient can easily succumb to a concussion without losing consciousness or having any obvious immediate symptoms. In such cases most people just dust themselves and move on like nothing ever happened, but this is very dangerous as concussions have to be treated immediately.
If left unattended the concussion may result in physical limitations and lack of concentration affecting patient living a full life. This is exactly why it is imperative that everyone including athletes understand just how disabling a concussion can be, especially if it is not treated effectively. Some of the most profound symptoms that indicate you have faced a concussion are mentioned below.
- Cognition symptoms
- Not being able to remember new information
- Not being able to recall memories
- Feeling tired and drained
- Not being able to think clearly
- Not being able to concentrate
- Physical symptoms
- Constantly feeling tired or lethargic
- Feeling dizzy
- Headache
- Extra sensitivity to bright lights
- Extra sensitivity to loud sounds
- Vision impairment
- Nausea and vomiting
- Emotional symptoms
- Mood swings
- Easily angered
- Constant feeling of being agitated
- Anxiety
- Depression
How to prevent concussions in athletes?
If you have displayed any of the signs mentioned above, consider visiting your doctor as soon as possible. Treating a concussion is no easy task and requires immense dedication on your behalf as one of the most delicate organs of your body has been harmed.
Rest assured concussions can easily be managed through a variety of methods, but the effectiveness and speed of the treatment depends on how fast you seek help.
Since athletes are more prone to concussions we have streamlined our prevention techniques for them. The best way to avoid the consequences of concussion is by preventing them from happening in the first place. This can be done through a variety of ways. Some of the most profound methods of preventing concussions in athletes are mentioned below.
- Educate each individual
Every athlete should have a degree of knowledge regarding concussions and how disabling this injury can be. Most athletes do not even know what a concussion is; this is exactly why everyone should gain insight about this injury and its symptoms.
- Highlight the importance of safety gear
Athletes should understand that the only thing protecting them from a concussion is the safety gear that sport requires. As a coach or trainer you should make sure that each athlete is wearing the appropriate gear and understands how important this gear really is.
- Routine Proximity checks
Another way of preventing concussion is by making sure that the field is not damaged in any way. For football, soccer, hockey and tennis players, you should make sure that the ground is perfectly even and that nothing is present that could injure athletes in any way.
