Sports like football, rugby, and hockey involve direct blows to the head, which result in concussions. Such effects are registered in tackles, collisions, body checks or falls. The impact shakes the brain hard in the skull, destroying brain cells and causing the brain to carry out normal functions.
The symptoms of this brain trauma are immediate. They are headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, light or sound sensitivity, and in some cases, loss of consciousness. These symptoms require a prompt withdrawal of the athlete immediately in order to avoid further injury after recognizing them.
Insufficient healing, or coming back to the field too soon, greatly increases the danger. Repeated concussions increase the risk. The two conditions considerably increase chances of severe long-term neurological issues.
There is a strong connection between Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)- multiple concussions. CTE is a gradual brain disorder that is associated with abnormal accumulation of protein. It is a disease that extinguishes the brain cells and years after retirement it causes dementia, severe mood disorders, aggression, and cognitive decline.
Concussion prevention has to be done by enforcing rules against dangerous hits. It is non-negotiable to ensure that an athlete is fully recovered before he can resume any activity. Neglecting the required recovery measures ensures the high probability of the occurrence of permanent brain damage that will change life.
Conclusion:
Direct head blows are a common cause of concussions which occur in contact sports. The chronic consequences are dramatic and irreversible: great risks of depression and cognitive damage and CTE. Safety should be done through implementation of safety regulations and only after the athlete has recovered well to get back to the field. There exists no safe cut corner to it, partial healing or recurring injuries lead to progressive, destructive brain damage. The most important thing should be safety.
