Protect Your Noggin

Protect Your Noggin

Recent news and research has brought attention to head injuries and the significance of repeated head trauma. The research focused on football players and, while the researchers were cautious to not claim that football will cause serious brain injury, they have illuminated significant risk associated between recurring head injuries and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). 

CTE is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain and is a result of repeated trauma to the head. CTE is very common in boxers and the research has shown that is is also very common among football players in the NFL, college and high school.  In fact, research suggests that the frequency of CTE increases relative to how long a person participates in the sport; the occurrence of CTE is relatively low among those that participate in football at grade school level and steadily increases to include almost everyone tested at the NFL level. 

The symptoms of CTE, when mild, are often mistaken for the normal aging process and when more severe often are mistaken for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases.  Prevention is best.
Your doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic are not recommending "no football," but do think it is important to know and recognize the symptoms of concussion and take the time and precautions to heal completely from head injuries before returning to activities that will potentially lead to another head impact.

It is important to know the signs and symptoms of concussion. Following a concussion, a person may experience some or many of these symptoms:

-Headaches
-A foggy feeling in the head
-Balance difficulties
-Concentration and memory complaints
-Irritability and other personality changes
-Psychological adjustment problems and depression
-Forgetfulness, especially surrounding the time of injury
-Dizziness
-Vomiting
-Slurred speech
-Fatigue
-Loss of consiousness temporarily following injury
-Sensitivity to light and noise
-Sleep disturbances
-Disorders of taste and smell

After a head impact it is important to pay attention to any of these complaints or look for signs of these symptoms in your children.  According to the CDC, if a person suffers a concussion, some tips for safe healthy recovery are:

-Get plenty of reset and sleep at night
-Avoid physically demanding activities
-Avoid any activity that may lead to anther impact to the head or any activity that may jostle the head.
-Ease back into normal activities.
-Avoid any drugs and mind altering substances.
-No Alcohol until fully recovered.

Finally, seek emergency care following a head injury if:
-Repeated vomiting
-Seizures
-Loss of consciousness lasting longer than 30 seconds
-Headache that gets progressively worse or a headache in an adult that is described as the "worst headache of my life"
-Significant losses in coordination
-Significant confusion or disorientation
-Slurred speech 
-Difficulty recognizing familiar people=
-Pupils dialated unevenly 
-Visual disturbances
-Significant or recurring dizziness
-Symptoms that worsen over time
-Large bumps or bruises on the head in areas other than the forehead 

You are welcome to call your doctor at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic to discuss concerns regarding head injuries.

 406-551-2177