Have you ever had a head injury due to playing a sport? This needs more focus. Head injuries are real and very harmful. The chance of getting a head injury has been rising recently.

Head injuries are especially important and dangerous. There are many types of different injuries, like getting a concussion, or having Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).  A concussion is a mild brain injury that can happen by a hit to the head or to the body. Although it says mild, it can be very traumatic on the brain and/or body. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain caused by repeated head trauma. It can be associated with congestive and behavioral problems such as memory loss, depression, and aggression.

Although many other things can cause head injuries, one cause that is common is football. Some of the risk factors are repeated head impacts which means even sub-concussive impacts can contribute to CTE over time. The high-impact nature of football contributes to this; Football involves frequent collisions.

Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) is a potentially deadly, but rare thing players can get. They put yourself on a higher risk of getting this if they go without reporting their symptoms or playing before recovery. It is important to know that a significant percentage of head injuries, more than half go unreported.

There are many symptoms of head trauma, or signs of a concussions. There are physical, emotional, and cognitive signs. Some physical symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and vision problems. Emotional problems can manifest as irritability, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. Cognitive symptoms include confusion, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. Some symptoms can delay. They can come later, even if you currently have to concussions the symptoms may not show until later into the recovery.

Many studies find that 5% of youth football players sustain a concussion each season. Youth players include ages 5-14. More than 62,000 concussions happen each year in high school with contact sports. More than 10% of college players experience a brain injury annually. This is extremely dangerous because reoccurring head injuries can cause long term damage, and problems. If players are worried about having a head injury or have thoughts about having one, they need to consider seeking medical help with a professional.