Football Brain Injuries In today’s world, nothing seems more ideal than having a career as a professional athlete. All children aspire to grow up and be like Tom Brady or Lebron James playing in front of a huge crowd. Sports are fun and entertaining, the income is more than enough, and the popularity is never ending. As of recent, there has been certain acquired information that has put all of these fantasies to a screeching halt. This information relates to football players and the concussions and brain damage they are having to deal with. In the past, the majority of people viewed concussions as a short-term difficulty. With recent technology advances and information obtained, things have changed. These concussions are affecting the
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Experts recommend that an athlete with a suspected concussion not return to play until he or she has been medically evaluated (Mayo, 2). A 2007 study showed that out of nearly 600 former players that sustained at least three concussions, 20% were diagnosed with depression, which was triple the rate of players that had depression without any concussions (Dotson, 8). Inside of this large number of concussions, twenty percent of 160 NFL players surveyed in 2009 admit to hiding or downplaying the symptoms of a possible concussion in order to stay in the game or continue playing throughout a season (Dotson, 19). Although this is a risk the players are taking, it should be taken into consideration by doctors as well. Doctors have been working on their diagnoses of concussions and the appropriate timetable in which an athlete is healthy to return. Recently, trainers and doctors have been leaning toward the safe side with all of the trouble going on today. It is not worth returning to the field an extra day or even week early if it is going to affect the brain in both the short term and the long run. The brain is the most important part of the body, and should be taken seriously at any …show more content…
This is the diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is defined as a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes with a history of brain trauma (Ziegler, 1). It was first found in boxers in the early 1920’s when they were repeatedly hit in the head causing slurred speech, confusion, tremors, and slow movement (Ziegler, 1). Of the fifty-one cases of CTE that have been diagnosed, ninety percent of these have been ruled athletes. Many doctors relate this unfortunate disease to Alzheimers due to the significant amount of memory loss. It runs separate from Alzheimers because it can be prevented. CTE, or repeated brain trauma, is an environmental cause. By eliminating head to head contact and severe brain injuries, this disease can easily be avoided. CTE causes an abundance of physiological and neurological changes in the brain. The main factor causing CTE is the buildup of the tau protein. This abnormal protein will visit areas in the brain it is not supposed to, and begin to clump. The clumping of the tau proteins will lead to irregular brain activity and cause many dysfunctions inside and outside of the body. It can take months, years, and even decades to start experiencing symptoms of this disease. Symptoms of CTE include concentration and attention
Experts recommend that an athlete with a suspected concussion not return to play until he or she has been medically evaluated (Mayo, 2). A 2007 study showed that out of nearly 600 former players that sustained at least three concussions, 20% were diagnosed with depression, which was triple the rate of players that had depression without any concussions (Dotson, 8). Inside of this large number of concussions, twenty percent of 160 NFL players surveyed in 2009 admit to hiding or downplaying the symptoms of a possible concussion in order to stay in the game or continue playing throughout a season (Dotson, 19). Although this is a risk the players are taking, it should be taken into consideration by doctors as well. Doctors have been working on their diagnoses of concussions and the appropriate timetable in which an athlete is healthy to return. Recently, trainers and doctors have been leaning toward the safe side with all of the trouble going on today. It is not worth returning to the field an extra day or even week early if it is going to affect the brain in both the short term and the long run. The brain is the most important part of the body, and should be taken seriously at any …show more content…
This is the diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is defined as a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes with a history of brain trauma (Ziegler, 1). It was first found in boxers in the early 1920’s when they were repeatedly hit in the head causing slurred speech, confusion, tremors, and slow movement (Ziegler, 1). Of the fifty-one cases of CTE that have been diagnosed, ninety percent of these have been ruled athletes. Many doctors relate this unfortunate disease to Alzheimers due to the significant amount of memory loss. It runs separate from Alzheimers because it can be prevented. CTE, or repeated brain trauma, is an environmental cause. By eliminating head to head contact and severe brain injuries, this disease can easily be avoided. CTE causes an abundance of physiological and neurological changes in the brain. The main factor causing CTE is the buildup of the tau protein. This abnormal protein will visit areas in the brain it is not supposed to, and begin to clump. The clumping of the tau proteins will lead to irregular brain activity and cause many dysfunctions inside and outside of the body. It can take months, years, and even decades to start experiencing symptoms of this disease. Symptoms of CTE include concentration and attention