Concussions; Second Impact Syndrome

Marc Martinez

Every year there are important discussions over concussions in football. In 2010 players that showed any signs, symptoms, and or behaviors of a concussion were not allowed to return to play until cleared by a healthcare professional. This allows for players to not go back into the game and suffer second impact syndrome which is very dangerous to a human being. According to University of Washington medicine a second impact syndrome is “a rare and dangerous result of second concussion that happens when the brain is still healing from a previous concussion. Second-impact syndrome causes dangerous brain swelling and bleeding that can cause death or permanent disability. It can even occur days to weeks after a first concussion is diagnosed”.1 So the new rule established helps cut down on players going back into the game and receive multiple concussions. Some cases of concussions have been documented serious enough, that it can lead to someone committing suicide

Concussions can lead to anxiety, depression and other psychological maladies.   “61 percent of the players sustained one concussion during their NFL career , 24 percent sustained three or more concussions, 12 percent sustained five or more concussions, The average number of concussions was 2.1, 71 percent returned to play on the same day that they sustained a concussion”.2 knowing these critical numbers explains why the safety of  players is very important because of how many concussion players receive each year.

With a severe case of former NFL players who have committed suicide because of depression symptoms, the NFL has had to re-examine the relationship with their players and the attack from the sports world on concussions being a health issue not properly examined. In a research article by Richard Weinmeyere, the struggle of depression leading to suicide took aim for families to have their lost ones brains analyzed to have a better understanding what exactly might have ignited these former great football players depressions and suicide. This presented article points out the case of former San Diego Charger Junior Seau, Philadelphia Eagles Andre Waters, and Arizona Cardinals Dave Duerson who all took their lives after dealing with depression for so many years after their playing career. Examining the brains of these former great stars lead to finding a condition of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

For the next few weeks I will be discussing future problems with retired nfl athletes regarding concussions and second impact syndrome and the effects it has on their brain well after their playing days are over.

References:

1. "Second-impact Syndrome." - Sports Concussion. N.p., n.d. Web.
2. Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 Feb. 2011. Web.