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1. They can't be prevented. (They are Inevitable!)
You cannot fully prevent concussions, unless you eliminate all movement from your life. If you play a sport or participate in any high impact activities, that require helmets, they are almost inevitable. It's estimated that kids/teens alone, get 1.1 to 1.9 million concussions per year. Even with a helmet, concussions cannot be prevented, weather it be on a bike, the field, a car, or working on a site, concussions are caused by rapid motion of the neck and head, causing the brain to shake within the skull. Since nothing can hold the brain still, there will always be a risk of concussion.
2. 50% go undiagnosed. You could have one and not even know it!
Concussions are an extremely common injury, and could still be more common than we know. Half of all concussions are never diagnosed or treated at all, which can be estimated at a few hundred-thousand per year. This may be in part because 90% of all concussion patients will show no physical sign of injury, internal or external. It is the symptoms that will typically reveal the extent of the injury.
3. If left untreated they can lead to death!
Undiagnosed concussions can cause serious and permanent damage, but some cases can be even worse. This is a frightening fact, but it is no scary story. Concussions should be taken very seriously. Your brain is you, and you are your brain. And you are very delicate. You need to rest and recover properly. Continuing certain activities with a concussion can lead to significantly worse results. Receiving a second heavy impact could result in death.
4. A blood clot can form between your brain and skull!
This may be the most visually frightening fact here. Though most concussions don't result in physical injuries, some impacts can cause extreme symptoms, that lead to them. A hematoma is a blood clot that collects in or around the brain, that can rapidly enlarge. The increased pressure within the skull can cause serious neurological problems, and can even be life-threatening.
5. 99.1% of former NFL Players have signs of CTE!
This fact should send fear down the spines of all football parents. While this is most likely to result from a lifetime of football, it is less about the years played and more about the amount concussions received. Almost no NFL players leave the sport without signs of CTE.
Look out for these symptoms, provided by the CDC. If you experience any of these for a period of time after a fall, seek medical attention.
Many of the serious issues, post head injury, can be prevented with timely and proper medical care. The sooner one is diagnosed, the sooner they can be treated and recover. Seeking medical attention within the first week of injury can reduce the rehabilitation period by weeks or even months. Waiting could result in the mentioned, or many other "scary" outcomes.
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