Concussions: what to watch for, and why you should care

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As an athlete, I have had my fair share of concussions.f I have learned one thing from having them, it’s that they are not something to be taken lightly. 

Concussions are injuries that if not treated properly, can have lasting, negative effects on your brain and in serious cases, lead to death. A lot of athletes notice the signs of having a concussion but choose not to say anything for many different reasons. If you notice any of these signs below in yourself or someone else after taking a blow to the head, it is important to speak to a doctor. 

It could potentially save your life. 

The 10 most common signs of a concussion are

• Headache

• Ringing in the ears

• Nausea 

• Vomiting

• Fatigue 

• Blurry vision

• Slurred speech

• Delayed reaction time

• Personality change

• Dazed appearance

Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other injury in sports. The hardest part about this is that many of these deaths could have been avoided if the athlete would have gotten help when they started experiencing these signs. 

In any season, around 10% of all college players will have a concussion and it is proven that a traumatic brain injury in sports occurs every 15 seconds. Concussions are extremely common and almost every athlete will experience at least one concussion in their sports career. 

A big reason why athletes don’t like to speak up after having signs of a concussion is because the recovery process is long and boring. Concussion recovery usually consists of sitting in a dark room with little access to screen time or natural light. Doing this after a concussion is very important because it gives your brian time to heal properly, because when you are watching tv or using your phone, you are making your brain work harder than it needs to. 

If you do end up having a concussion, here are a few tips to help with your recovery process.

• Reduce screen time

• Limit exposure to light and loud sounds

• Stay hydrated 

• Rest

• Eat a lot of protein

 Overall, a concussion is probably one of the most serious injuries anyone could ever endure. Don’t try to “tough it out” when you could be seriously harmed. Seek help immediately and don’t be afraid of what is going to happen afterward; your health and safety comes first.