Concussion Effects

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Concussions are often blown off and not taken seriously but the effects can be harmful and sometimes devastating. Football players sometimes refer to getting a concussion as getting their “bell rung” because of the ringing noise they hear in their head. A concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain that can occur with or without a period of unconsciousness. It is caused by a hard hit to the head when the brain is jolted against the skull. The effects of a concussion can include, but are not limited to, headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination. These problems can be short term or long term depending on many variables. It is also vital to avoid the possibility of another hit to the head while recovering from a concussion because it can cause …show more content…
In this research they used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI is an advanced form of MRI which allows you to see microscopic changes in the brain’s white matter. Saeed Fakhran, (M.D.) an assistant professor of neuroradiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, was a part of this study. Dr. Fakhran said, “Currently, we are heavily reliant on patient reporting, and patients may have ulterior motives, such as wanting to get back to play. But you can’t trick an MR scanner”. The research he participated in showed an average of a 54 day recovery for all concussion patients. The female average was 26.3 days for recovery, whiles the male average was a significantly longer time of 66.9 days. A recovery time longer than three months is usually due to a decreased UF (uncinate fasciculus) FA (fractional anisotropy; movement of water molecules along axons) level and being of the male gender. In conclusion, gender and UF FA levels can contribute to the length of recovery from a