Keep Your Head in the Game

How to protect yourself and your children from concussions

It was a big soccer game for Matt Kosik. As he and his Emmaus High School teammates raced to block a corner kick, heads collided and suddenly everything went fuzzy.

Kosik sustained a minor concussion that day. The 18-year old is fine now, but the experience made him realize how dangerous concussions can be. “I didn’t want another,” he says. “I wore protective headgear the rest of the season.”

A concussion is a brain injury most often caused by a fall, blow to the head or vehicle crash. It’s a common condition: Lehigh Valley Hospital’s trauma department sees about 1,000 concussion victims every year, says trauma surgeon Michael Pasquale, M.D.

Concussions range from mild to severe, and people of all ages and both genders suffer from them. The most vulnerable group is young athletes, says Mark Li, M.D., a neurosurgeon at the hospital. Not only are they engaged in risky activity, their brains are still developing. “If a concussion affects their ability to learn, it can be the difference between success or failure in school and possibly the rest of their lives,” he says.

Fortunately, most people recover from a concussion without permanent damage. But it’s important to seek medical attention right away if you notice symptoms (see above). “Concussions take time to heal, and a health professional can decide how serious the concussion is and when it’s safe to return to sports and other activities,” Pasquale says.

A second concussion before the first has healed can result in “second impact syndrome,” a serious condition affecting blood flow in the brain that can cause permanent brain damage and even death. In school athletics, trainers are the first line of defense against this problem because they’re educated to recognize concussion symptoms, says Laura Dunne, M.D., a sports medicine physician with the hospital.

Of course, prevention is the best strategy of all. Always wear a properly fitted helmet in sports that require one, and avoid direct strikes to the head. The sports of major concern are football, soccer, basketball and field hockey.

“The reality is that most kids who play these sports won’t become professional athletes,” Li says. “But they will always need their brains, so they need to make intelligent choices and be aware of the risks.”

Kosik knows that’s true. He’ll need all his brain power at Lehigh University this fall, where he’ll major in integrated business and engineering. He’ll also play soccer. “I love the sport, it’s my passion,” he says. “But I’m a smarter player now.”

Want to Know More about concussion symptoms and how to care for your teen athlete? Call 610-402-CARE.

Published from Healthy You Magazine, May-June 2008