By: Joslyn VanderHart 

Do you know someone that has ever had a concussion? I guarantee the answer is yes because this type of injury is by far the most common, especially in relation to sports. Most people who are regularly active and are constantly participating in close contact activities that puts their head at risk have experienced the side effects of having one. Just because someone has experienced a blow to the head doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ve obtained this injury, but it is always smart to check in with a doctor if symptoms are lasting several days after the collision. 

There are several symptoms related to concussions but it may be hard to tell if they are serious enough to call it a concussion or not, but it is important to know what to look out for. Depending on the severity of it, the symptoms may not show right away. Beth Kolar, who is an advanced clinician at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital says “For some people the symptoms after a concussion may not become apparent until later in the day or could potentially take up to 48 hours to kick in.” Besides just having a major headache all the time, there are a lot more signs to pay attention to according to the CDC website.. They said “The most common symptoms include nausea or vomiting, balance problems, dizziness, double/blurry vision, sensitivity to light/noise, feeling sluggish, and a lot of confusion.” Therefore, when someone hits their head it’s best to check if they’re experiencing any of these symptoms. 

Once someone has been diagnosed with a concussion, it is crucial that they take immediate action for recovery. Normally doctors just suggest taking a long pause from any sort of physical activity to let the brain heal but if it’s a more serious concussion then professional help may be needed in order to heal 100%. I interviewed my mom who is a physical therapist at metro health hospital and she says “resting your mind is the only way to heal quickly so it’s advised to take a break from screens, stay hydrated, and get lots of sleep.” If a concussed person takes good care of themself then they are expected to return to their all activities after two weeks of being diagnosed, if and only if they get cleared by their doctor though. 

Kids playing more physical sports are at a much higher risk for getting concussions which is why the rate for this head injury is so high. “The sports with the most risk of getting concussed are mens rugby, mens football, women’s hockey, men’s hockey, women’s soccer, and mens soccer”, says completeconcussions.com. If someone knows that they are prone to getting hit in the head,  It is important to take major precautions, because too many blows to the head can cause permanent damage that can affect the rest of their life. 

Head protection is the most crucial gear when it comes to being active whether it’s riding a bike or playing a sport. Nobody would ever want to be told by their doctor that they can no longer do the things they love because their head can’t take anymore damage. Concussions are a serious issue which is why everyone needs to do their part to protect their heads as much as possible to prevent them.