Constant knocks to the head during a football game, cheerleading competitions or simply fooling around in gym class can lead to irrational and everlasting effects on an athlete’s brain. Those who suffer from multiple head impacts or simply one concussion, experience short term and possibly long term side effects regarding function of the brain.
Neurologists treat concussion injuries quite seriously and try a variety of options to prevent long term issues.
“Concussions are the traumatic event where the brain is not able to function properly due to brute force. As a doctor, I take into consideration the type of impact my patient had and base my suggestions of treatment off of that information. Typically, for a minor to mild head injury, I will remove the patient from all physical activity, decrease their workload at school, and simply resting in a dark and quiet environment,” said NorthShore neurologist Nicole Reams.
In addition to the alterations to treat concussion symptoms, just obtaining a concussion in general can significantly impact a person’s everyday life.
“Concussions affect the way someone’s ability to concentrate as the severe pain takes over someone’s mind. It also affects a person’s mood as they feel incredibly sluggish and tired all the time,” said NorthShore pediatrician Felissa Kreindler.
From an athlete’s point of view, a concussion can differ their actions and mood throughout the day.
“When I had a concussion, all I felt like doing was laying in bed and sleeping. The slightest bit of bright light or sound made my headache so much worse,” said senior Serge Troekurov.
As the amount of concussions people suffer from recently increases exponentially, doctors have attempted new techniques to avoid long term brain issues.
“In the past, concussions were treated by a patient resting in a dark room. Now they have found that physical therapy helps recover balance, gaze stability, focus, and mood. This is called vestibular therapy or balance/ocular motion rehabilitation,” said nurse Annie Swiatek.