Concussions must be taken seriously

“He bumped his head, went to bed, and couldn’t get up in the morning,” might be the light-hearted tune we’re singing with the spring rains, but the realities of concussions need to be taken seriously. Very seriously.

Described by the Mayo Clinic as a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions, Sandpoint physician, Scott Burgstahler, said that defining a concussion is difficult as each injury can affect a different part of the brain. There can be microscopic changes that might not show up in a scan resulting in varying symptoms from patient to patient..

After a recent accident, champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn said, “When I crashed, it was really icy and my head hit the ground really hard. I didn’t get knocked out, but I had a major headache. I had dizziness and couldn’t really put a sentence together. I just was not there.”

She said that the CT scan showed no bleeding, but she continued to feel odd and a week after the incident she said, “I just went blank … I couldn’t focus anymore … My mind was somewhere else … I felt like I was in a cloud.”

The NFL and NHL owners and coaches are searching for answers to why concussions are on the rise in their sports. The NFL had a 21 percent increase and the NHL had more than 80 reported incidents last season despite a focus on players’ safety and emphasis on rules.

One school of thought is that because of improved preventive equipment, athletes are more inclined to take body-breaking, brain splitting chances than they would if they were unprotected. Meanwhile, the long-term affect of brain injuries is still somewhat unknown and what is known is that it can be life-long debilitating if not life-threatening.

Since prevention is the best medicine, the best thing for all of us to do is to make sure we’re wearing all the protective equipment our sport offers. Strap on that helmet before you ride your bike, motorcycle or ATV. Put one on to go skiing, play football, hockey or baseball. Helmets are also being tested for baseball pitchers and soccer players and could become mandatory for organized games at some point.

Tom Albertson, assistant principal for athletics and activities at Sandpoint High School, said that all their coaches must take a National Federation of High School Sports course on concussions.

“We also give athletes a computerized impact test to get a baseline reading pre-concussion. If any athlete is evaluated by our athletic trainer with concussion symptoms they re-test and use the results as one tool for re-entry to play. Any student diagnosed with a concussion must have doctor clearance to play,” Albertson said.

If you suspect a concussion, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms can include dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, fatigue, light sensitivity and loss of memory or concentration, headaches, sleep disturbances irritability and personality changes. Be aware that these signs can last a day or several weeks and although they may lessen, they’re still serious. Also note that they may not result immediately post-trauma.

Although your physician will know best and may prescribe a medication, often the best treatment is rest. Rest from all daily activities not just physical ones. The Mayo Clinic advises avoiding watching TV, playing video games, texting or using a computer and reducing school workload while recovering.

So, one more time, remember that prevention is the key. Play safe and get your head in gear!

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com or by phone at 264-4029.