Football players are vulnerable candidates for experiencing concussions throughout their athletic career due to hard impacts and strong blows to the head. Common signs and symptoms of an athlete who has sustained a concussion can involve cognitive and behavioral abnormalities such as memory loss, vomiting or nausea, headaches, blurred vision and sensitivity to light, slurred speech, difficulty concentrating or fatigue. Concussions are classified by different grades according to severity of the impact and sustained injury.
Grade 1 Concussion
A Grade 1 concussion is the most common, yet most difficult to recognize, concussion. In this stage, the athlete does not lose consciousness, but exhibits signs of poor concentration, inattention, or difficulty processing information or performing sequence tasks. Temporary confusion and amnesia usually last up to 15 minutes. The athlete might complain of a headache or faint dizziness. The symptoms of a simple concussion, usually sustained from a Grade 1 or Grade 2 concussion, usually only last for 7 to 10 days, after which brain activity usually returns to normal.
Grade 2 Concussion
In a Grade 2 concussion, the athlete does not experience unconsciousness, but he might complain of confusion and dizziness, and exhibit signs of mental abnormalities such as poor concentration or post-traumatic amnesia. The athlete typically sustains these symptoms for 15 minutes to one hour. The athlete might experience dizziness, nausea, confusion, tiredness, irritability, slurred speech, fatigue or temporary amnesia. One, some or all of these symptoms might be present.
Grade 3 Concussion
Grade 3 concussions are relatively easy to detect because the athlete will lose consciousness for up to one minute. After the accident, the athlete will complain of the same symptoms and exhibit the signs associated with Grade 2 concussion, such as dizziness, nausea, irritability and confusion, and will sustain these signs and symptoms for more than 15 minutes. Grade 3 concussions, or complex concussions, can last more than 10 days and require close monitoring and medical attention.
Second Impact Syndrome
A dangerous and deadly syndrome related to concussions that has been observed in football accidents is called second impact syndrome. According to an article in the "New York Times," second impact syndrome occurs mostly in high school-age athletes when a second impact occurs to the head when the first injury has not completely healed. When this happens, athletes might experience increased cerebral blood flow, excessive arterial swelling and built-up pressure in the brain, which can lead to a coma or death. For this reason, parents, coaches and athletes should be very attentive to injuries, seek prompt medical attention and follow physician guidelines precisely.
Warning
The Mayo Clinic warns that athletes who have experienced a traumatic hit and exhibit symptoms of a concussion should not return to competitive play as long as the symptoms are present. An athlete with a possible concussion should be evaluated by a medical professional before resuming play. Child and adolescent athletes should not return to play or compete on the same day as the injury.
