CONCUSSIONS
From page 8
When you suspect a concussion, the individual must leave
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a parent or coach to decide if someone has a concussion. More
importantly, you simply should remember what the signs of a
Then, anywhere from 5 minutes to hours later, symptoms can
appear. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant and constantly
Why is it important to know if a concussion exists and to
know how the brain is recovering, especially during the early
phases of the concussion. Unlike when someone has a sprained
watch these symptoms diminish as the injury improves, with a
concussion there are no visible symptoms. However, we know
that during the healing of the brain various chemicals are trying
to return to a pre-injury state of homeostasis. Research shows
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come, even catastrophic, are very likely. When this occurs, it is
referred to as “second impact syndrome”. This emphasizes the
importance of being aware of the signs and symptoms associated
with a concussion. Not all concussions occur with a single, hard
blow to the head. In fact, recent studies have reported what we
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ages in the brain. In this case, these so called sub-concussive hits
When we consider concussions in younger ice hockey players,
the concerns associated with not removing one from play
immediately, or returning someone back to the ice too soon are
of even greater concern. When brain cells are damaged, their
who develops damaged brain cells from repeated concussions,
he or she may lose the ability to calculate, speak clearly or translate
language, or demonstrate changes in their ability to control
With a child who begins to experience brain cell damage from
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ey player who has had 2 concussions and is beginning to have
brain cell changes may not develop the full capability to calcu-
or college. This same person may also begin to exhibit personal-
more irritated with simple tasks.
See CONCUSSIONS, page 10