You’ve probably heard a lot in the news this past year about concussions, especially in connection with professional athletes. What may surprise you, though, is how much more common concussions are than one might think, and how few are actually related to sports injuries. Let’s take a look at this common problem, often referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
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According to the CDC, there were 2.5 million emergency room visits for brain injuries in 2010. That’s just the number who actually went to a hospital. Many people don’t think a concussion is that bad unless they lose consciousness.
Concussions are not just a problem among adults. In 2009, nearly a quarter of a million minors were treated in emergency rooms for brain injuries.
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In a study that spanned 5 years, more than 40% of brain injuries were noted to be caused by falls. This made up more than 80% of concussions in seniors and more than half of concussions in children age 14 and younger.
Other common causes included unintentional blunt force trauma (getting hit with something by accident), traffic accidents, and assaults. Most assaults affected patients between ages 15 and 44.
What researchers have really brought to light recently is the fact that concussions can result in long-term effects including headaches or migraines, vertigo, cognitive difficulties, depression and anxiety, insomnia, and other symptoms. These symptoms can all be linked to a misalignment of the atlas vertebra that frequently occurs when one is struck on the head.
Atlas misalignments can result in pressure on the brainstem, restricted blood flow to the brain, and problems with cerebrospinal fluid drainage. As a result, linger symptoms may become chronic. These symptoms are often called post-concussion syndrome. For many, correcting the underlying misalignment has resulted in fewer symptoms or even complete resolution of the problem. To learn more, schedule a consultation. An upper cervical examination may lead to discovering a correctable underlying misalignment.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hall, call our Brentwood office at 615-488-7891 or just click the button below.
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