Sports and Concussions

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footballbrainThe arrival of spring brings more opportunities for outdoor youth sporting events and activities. Young athletes on the field frequently sustain minor injuries such as cuts, bumps, and bruises. Sometimes, when athletes fall or collide with other players, head injuries occur.  More serious head injuries that affect the brain are known as concussions.

A concussion occurs when an impact causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull. This movement can cause bruising of the brain itself or stretching, tearing or bleeding in the tissues and blood vessels that surround the brain. Patients who have suffered even a mild concussion should be monitored closely as it may take several hours, even days to determine the full effects of a concussion.

After any head injury, observe the individual closely, looking for the following:

  • Any loss of consciousness
  • Impaired physical functioning
  • Behavioral, mood, and personality changes
  • Confusion
  • Forgetfulness or difficulty remembering recent events

Seek immediate medical care for the following signs or symptoms:

  • Dilated pupils
  • Worsening headache
  • Increased drowsiness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Slurred speech
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Significant memory problems or atypical behavior
  • If the athlete “just does not feel right”

An athlete with a concussion needs time to heal and must refrain from sports activities until he or she is fully recovered and symptom free. Injured athletes should be evaluated and cleared to resume their sport by a medical provider.  Repeat concussions can result in long-term problems in an athlete, including permanent brain damage.

To enjoy a safe spring sporting season, young athletes should always wear appropriate safety gear, follow the rules of the game, and avoid reckless or dangerous play.

IT’S SPRING – IS IT A COLD OR ALLERGIES?

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The start of spring brings warm weather, rain, flowers, and a lot of coughing, congestion, and runny noses. So, is it the common cold or are allergies triggering these uncomfortable symptoms?  Since it can be hard to differentiate between these conditions, here are a few tips to help determine whether it’s a common cold or allergies causing your stuffy nose.

Common Colds can be caused by over 200 different viruses. These viruses can enter your body when you come in contact with a person who is already sick with a virus. Since most cold viruses are spread through respiratory droplets, covering coughs and sneezes and proper hand washing are extremely important to prevent spreading your cold to others around you.

When your immune system recognizes that there is a cold virus present, it begins to attack it. Your body experiences “side effects” of this attack, like congestion and cough. When your immune system successfully fights off the virus, symptoms resolve. Most colds will last 5 to 7 days.

Allergies, unlike colds, are not contagious.  They are caused by exposure to allergens; such as dust, dander, mold or pollen. When your immune system senses a specific allergen it is sensitive to, chemicals called histamines are released. These histamines trigger symptoms like runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. Since your immune system has no way of fighting off the allergens, symptoms caused by allergies tend to last much longer than symptoms from a common, viral cold.

Differences between a cold and allergies:

Characteristics

Cold

Allergy

Duration

3-14   days

Days to   months,

as long   as there is continued exposure to the allergen

Time of   Year

Commonly   during the winter, but possible at any time.

Any time   of year, but some allergens appear seasonally.

Onset of   Symptoms

A few   days after infection with a virus

Immediately   after exposure to the allergen.

Symptoms

Cold

Allergy

Cough

Often

Sometimes

Aches

Sometimes

Never

Fatigue

Sometimes

Sometimes

Fever

Sometimes

Never

Itchy,   watery eyes

Rarely

Often

Sore   Throat

Often

Sometimes

Runny or   stuffy nose

Often

(usually   thicker discharge)

Often

(usually   thinner discharge)

 

As you can see, symptoms of common colds and allergies are very similar. A key difference is how long symptoms last. Common colds rarely last longer than 14 days. If you are continuing to experience symptoms after 14 days, allergies or a more serious infection may be causing your problems and you should see your doctor for a complete evaluation.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold. All you can do to feel better is to treat your symptoms while your body fights off the virus. Get plenty of rest. Drink a lot of fluids such as water and clear soups. Fluids help loosen mucus and prevent dehydration. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, which can make cold symptoms worse. Analgesics like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can relieve aches and reduce fever. Some over the counter cold medicines contain ingredients that may reduce cough or thin mucus. Be sure to read all labels on over the counter medicines very carefully. If you have questions about them, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

 

If you can’t avoid exposure to the allergen you are sensitive to (like pollens, molds, pet dander, or dust), there are several different medications available to treat symptoms caused by allergies. Choosing the right one for you depends on the specific symptoms you are having, your age, and your overall health. Over the counter antihistamine medications (some brand names: Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra) help reduce the sneezing, runny nose and itchiness of allergies. These work best if they are taken before a person is exposed to the allergen. Some of these antihistamine medications can cause drowsiness, consult your pharmacist or doctor to learn more details about antihistamines. Over the counter decongestants help temporarily relieve stuffy nose symptoms but should only be used for short periods of time. Decongestants can raise your blood pressure, so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before using them, especially if you have high blood pressure. If over the counter measures are not keeping your allergy symptoms in check, there are additional types of allergy medications available by prescription, your doctor can discuss which options are best for you. For more information on specific types of allergens and how to avoid them, visit www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm

Highly Contagious ‘Norovirus’ Spreading in U.S.

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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that a highly contagious “stomach bug” called a “norovirus,” is now spreading in the U.S. and worldwide. This particular strain is said to have originated in Australia. Wide-spread norovirus infections can commonly occur on cruise ships and in schools.

A norovirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. Norovirus symptoms are diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever contracted primarily through infected fecal matter. Norovirus is not the influenza virus. Influenza usually does not cause symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.

Norovirus is contracted through direct contact with an infected person, by sharing foods or utensils; through contaminated food and liquids, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then your face and mouth. People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least 3 days after they recover. But, some people may be contagious for even longer.

Follow this advice from the CDC to help prevent you and others from getting sick:

  • Wash Hands Often – Use soap and water and scrub hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers and before handling food or eating. Norovirus can stay in your system for up to 2 weeks, so continue to wash your hands more frequently than usual during this time. In addition to hand washing you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
  • Wash and Cook Food Thoroughly - Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating them. Noroviruses can survive temperatures up to 140°F and quick steaming processes often used for cooking shellfish. Cook shellfish thoroughly. Keep sick individuals out of food preparation areas. If you are sick, do not prepare food.
  • Clean and Disinfect Contaminated Surfaces – Wear gloves and after vomiting and episodes of diarrhea, clean surfaces immediately with a chlorine bleach solution (5–25 tablespoons of household bleach [5.25%] per gallon of water) or other disinfectant registered as effective against norovirus by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • Wash Laundry Thoroughly – Handle contaminated clothes and linens carefully and wash them immediately. Wear rubber or disposable gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Wash the items with detergent in hot water at the maximum available cycle length then machine dry them.

It is important to drink plenty of fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea to avoid dehydration. Antibiotics are not effective in treating norovirus. Time, rest and avoiding contact with others is important. See a doctor or go to an urgent care walk-in clinic if you or someone you are caring for seems dehydrated. For additional information go to www.cdc.gov