Concussions In Football Persuasive Essay
“Mommy, I want to be just like him. I want to wear a cool uniform just like him. And I want to throw and catch passes just like him.” These are the words of a young child watching professional sports, always wanting to grow up to be just like the professional athlete he is seeing. With professional sports players being such huge role models to kids these days, everything that a player does is watched over by young learning eyes. Kids see how they act, how they celebrate a touchdown, even… how they are hit. With concussions in youth football turning into such huge issues including safety and prevention the National Football League is one that has been stepping up to take its own changes. The NFL has always endorsed safety with youth programs and encouraging concussion prevention, but with football being such a physical sport it begs the question of, “Is it worth it.” With the NFL being one of the most prominent outlet to youth, the handling of issues such as concussion needs to be handled properly in order to send a positive message to youth.
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Glazed stare, confusion, dizziness, and more are all signs of a concussion.
Memory loss before or during the concussion or slurred speech can mean an even more serious concussion. A concussion can occur by a blow or forced trauma to the brain. The impact injures the brain, which can cause brief unconsciousness and poor coordination after the player attempts to sit back up. With the NFL, hard hits are what the viewers tune in for and the players sustain hit after hit but still stay in. The Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC) can help determine if a player does indeed have a concussion after a hard hit; however, not one test can be the basis of a concussion diagnosis. Balance assessment tests, brief mental status exams, and even a CT scan are also measures that coaches can take to ensure full safety of the players (American Academy of
Neurology).
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a disease of the brain that is caused by repeated trauma to the brain. Ever since the 1920’s this disease has usually been found in boxers; however, recent studies have shown that this disease is showing up in the brains of retired football players. CTE can only be diagnosed in an autopsy after the person has already passed, even though researchers are currently looking for a way to diagnose someone with CTE while they are still alive. Most concussions occur without losing consciousness, but every concussion is different and each person reacts differently. In 1994, the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury committee was created in the NFL, and in 2007 guidelines were enforced with a hotline for injured players to call if they ever needed. This was a enforced by the NFL and definitely proved that they were taking a step towards what happens in the aftermath of an injury. In 2012 nearly 261 concussions were diagnosed in just one NFL season. By 2013 that number had dropped to 229 and by 2014 it was down to 202. this just shows that although the game didn’t necessarily improve over that span, but that more measures were indeed being taken to protect players. One player unfortunately, took his life after retiring from football, and his family wanted answers. Junior Seau, a former NFL linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots, committed suicide on May 2, 2012 with a gunshot wound to the chest. It was speculated that gunshot to the chest was to save his brain for research for CTE. An initial autopsy report found no brain damage, but then it was sent to the National Institutes of Health and in January of 2013 they confirmed the diagnosis of CTE in the brain of Junior Seau. Behavioral problems take over the personality of a person, and can make them act like they have never acted before. (CTE Center, Boston University), (CNN Library).
Glazed stare, confusion, dizziness, and more are all signs of a concussion.
Memory loss before or during the concussion or slurred speech can mean an even more serious concussion. A concussion can occur by a blow or forced trauma to the brain. The impact injures the brain, which can cause brief unconsciousness and poor coordination after the player attempts to sit back up. With the NFL, hard hits are what the viewers tune in for and the players sustain hit after hit but still stay in. The Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC) can help determine if a player does indeed have a concussion after a hard hit; however, not one test can be the basis of a concussion diagnosis. Balance assessment tests, brief mental status exams, and even a CT scan are also measures that coaches can take to ensure full safety of the players (American Academy of
Neurology).
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a disease of the brain that is caused by repeated trauma to the brain. Ever since the 1920’s this disease has usually been found in boxers; however, recent studies have shown that this disease is showing up in the brains of retired football players. CTE can only be diagnosed in an autopsy after the person has already passed, even though researchers are currently looking for a way to diagnose someone with CTE while they are still alive. Most concussions occur without losing consciousness, but every concussion is different and each person reacts differently. In 1994, the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury committee was created in the NFL, and in 2007 guidelines were enforced with a hotline for injured players to call if they ever needed. This was a enforced by the NFL and definitely proved that they were taking a step towards what happens in the aftermath of an injury. In 2012 nearly 261 concussions were diagnosed in just one NFL season. By 2013 that number had dropped to 229 and by 2014 it was down to 202. this just shows that although the game didn’t necessarily improve over that span, but that more measures were indeed being taken to protect players. One player unfortunately, took his life after retiring from football, and his family wanted answers. Junior Seau, a former NFL linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots, committed suicide on May 2, 2012 with a gunshot wound to the chest. It was speculated that gunshot to the chest was to save his brain for research for CTE. An initial autopsy report found no brain damage, but then it was sent to the National Institutes of Health and in January of 2013 they confirmed the diagnosis of CTE in the brain of Junior Seau. Behavioral problems take over the personality of a person, and can make them act like they have never acted before. (CTE Center, Boston University), (CNN Library).