Current Event Post #4
Topic: Health
Title of Article: Concussions May Be More Severe in Girls and Young Athletes
Author: Anahad O'Connor
Publication: The New York Times
Date: May 10, 2012
Words: 883
Research in the most recent issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that younger athletes and those that are female exhibit more frequent symptoms and take longer to recover from a concussion than athletes who are older and male. Over 1.6 million people suffer sports related concussions in America every year. That number is growing, especially in high school and college sports. The study posits that anatomical differences account for greater susceptibility among young and female athletes. Over a period of two years, Dr. Tracey Covassin and her colleagues studied a large group of high school and college athletes from the states of California, Michigan, Louisiana and Tennessee. At the beginning of the study the athletes were given tests to measure memory and other cognitive skills. Those who had suffered concussions, around 300, were given three common post-concussion test used in professional sports. Females showed greater declines in visual memory. The study also determined that cognitive impairments in high school students were likely to last two to three times longer than in college students. Researchers believe symptoms are worse in younger athletes because their bodies are not fully developed.
Conclusion:
A new study in The American Journal of Sports Medicine finds that young athletes and females have a harder time dealing with the aftereffects of a concussion than older athletes and males. The number of concussions at high schools and colleges is on the rise. A team lead by Dr. Tracey Covassin monitored a pool of high school and college athletes for a period of two years. Results showed that there was a greater impact on memory in females than males. Findings also showed that the effects of a concussion lasted significantly longer in high school athletes as opposed to college athletes.
This issue concerns me quite a bit. Many of my friends play sports regularly. One friend got a concussion just the other day. I don't think there is enough awareness about concussions. In general, one only considers outer injuries because they can be seen and internal injuries can't. Common severe sports injuries are well circulated and concussions, though just as severe, don't get mentioned as often.
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