Growing up, I played hockey. It’s very fun and I enjoyed it a lot. However, I learned the hard way that I should’ve been careful playing this sport. I have suffered a concussion in the past and it’s a serious matter to be taken. In a nutshell, a concussion is trauma to the brain through a direct blow to the head or indirect blow to the body. Anybody can get a concussion but the majority of concussions are sustained while playing sports.
Concussions are linked to dementia, a disorder that affects your mental processes. People with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments or traveling out of the neighborhood. There is a huge concern that if concussions or head injuries don’t get treated, the effects can last for a lifetime.
Never ignore the symptoms of concussions. Some are:
-
Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
-
Temporary loss of consciousness
-
Confusion or feeling as if in a fog
-
Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event
-
Dizziness or “seeing stars”
-
Ringing in the ears
-
Nausea
-
Vomiting
Normally, concussions are treated by resting the body and halting the activities of sports training and high-intensity workouts. The injury will start to heal over time, allowing you to increase the intensity of your activities.
Overall, you be the judge of how you feel. Listen to your body and seek medical attention if you need it. It is not worth it to ignore the pain in your body. Although it’s always nice to be in shape and enjoy your favourite sport, you still need to be careful.
