Informative Speech

In the 2017 National Football League season there was a reported 281 concussion reported. According to Menon “A concussion, which is a form of mild traumatic brain injury, occurs after a blow to the head. The brain is surrounded by fluid and protective membranes called meninges, which usually cushions the brain.” Concussions can be extremely dangerous and have major effects on people's lives. Concussions are broken down into three parts: primary injuries, secondary injuries, and the aftermath off the concussion (Dickerson).

Primary injuries during a concussion are the symptoms you hear about that come with an average concussion. During a concussion the brain is pushed against the skull causing bruising. The small protective layer of fluid isn’t enough to stop the brain from moving around during a hard hit. Bruising occurs where the brain makes contact with the skull. Their is often also bruising found on the exact opposite side of the brain from where it is set back into place. During the impact, the brain also twists and rotates. The twists and rotations in the brain make for a scary situation, especially when the fluid is not enough to protect it. The twists and rotations cause the brain to stretch and strain, which can ultimately cause tears in nerve tissues in the brain. Concussion also cause the chemicals in the brain to be thrown off balance. It can cause damage to nerve fibers and can explain the loss of consciousness during concussions. Some nerves can recover, but serious concussions and repetitive trauma can cause the permanent loss of nerve endings in the brain (Dickerson).

A lot of people don’t pay attention to the dangers that can come with secondary injuries during a concussion. Although they are forgotten about, they are very dangerous. According to Menon, “Secondary injuries are processes activated in the injured brain that can worsen the effects of a concussion”. After a concussion the brain is very vulnerable and should be protected with a lot of caution. The primary impact can cause a lot of trauma; however, the key to safety is not having any further injuries because the brain needs time to heal to ensure the survival of cells in the central nervous system. The production of free radicals in the brain is a common secondary injury. Free radicals are a harmful chemical that is released into the brain after head trauma. An increase in free radicals can lead to MPT. MPT is mitochondrial permeability transition. The MPT is the opening of a nonspecific high conductance channel/pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane that allows the passage of molecules. This process initiates a series of events that may cause cell injury or death. Another secondary injury Inflammation of the brain. According to Menon, “Inflammation is a response triggered by damage to living tissues.” The inflammation is a defense mechanism to protect the brain from infection and injury. Sometimes inflammation can be harmful causing tissue destruction or prolonged inflammation causing harm to healthy tissue. Menon points out that secondary injuries consist of “impaired transport of molecules within nerve cells,” and an imbalance “of key ions needed for nerve function”. Secondary injuries can be very dangerous, although uncommon, should not be looked over. (Menon)

The aftermath of a concussion can cause the most damage to people's lives. Life long symptoms of postconcussion symptoms like headaches, dizziness, fatigue, impaired focus, and 

an increased sensitivity to light and sound, shouldn’t be taken lightly. Common changes in behavior consist of impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and paranoia. In some circumstances, there can be problems in cognitive function. Multiple concussions can have a very serious impact on the brain and later in life many NFL players have CTE. According to Ward “A neuropathologist has examined the brains of 111 N.F.L. players — and 110 were found to have CTE''. “CTE causes myriad symptoms - memory loss, confusion, depression, and dementia.” In CTE, a protein called Tau forms. Tau forms in clumps, and these clumps move throughout the brain, bashing brain cells. CTE doesn’t just affect football players though, anybody who takes hits to the head on a regular basis such as boxers, veterans, and domestic abuse victims can all develop CTE (Rogers). 

    Concussions can cause a lot of damage to one's brains. After a concussion, people must give themselves time to heal from primary injuries, be careful to avoid secondary injuries, and watch for long term problems. Developing CTE is very serious and almost all football players are at risk of it. It is important to educate on concussions because they are such common occurrences, but can be so much more then they put out to be. 

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Annotated Bibliography

Dickerson, Kelly. “Whoa! this is what happens to your brain when you get a concussion.” The        News Herald. Retrieved 28 Dec. 2015. www.search.proquest.com/docview/1752374839? 

accountid=338. 

This gave me a good basis definition of concussion and some good facts. 

Menon, David. “What Happens in the Brain During and After a Concussion?” BrainFacts.org,

11 June 2015, www.brainfacts.org/ask-an-expert/what- happens-in-the-brain-during- and-after-a-concussion.

Concussions were very confusing to me before reading this source. It describes what actually happens to the brain during a concussion. It also gives a good idea of what happens during secondary injuries. 

Panickar, K. S., Jayakumar, A. R., & Norenberg, M. D. “Differential response of neural

cells to trauma-induced free radical production in vitro”. Neurochemical Research, 2002. https://search.proquest.com/docview/221777241?accountid=338.

Free radicals are chemicals released after a concussion that can be very harmful to the brain. Secondary injuries are often looked over when they can cause the most amount of damage in some cases. 

 Rogers, Kara. "Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)." Britannica School, Encyclopædia

Britannica, 21 Apr. 2016. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Chronic-traumatic-

encephalopathy/606724. 

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a very serious disease. It is developed over a span of time from multiple hits to the head not just one. In CTE, a protein called Tau forms. Tau forms in clumps and once built up, clumps move throughout the brain, bashing brain cells.

Ward, Joe. 110 NFL Brains. The New York Times. 25 Jul 2017. https://www.nytimes.

com/interactive/2017/07/25/sports/football/nfl-cte.html.

NFL players are all at risks of concussions. CTE symptoms can be found in almost every single retired football player in their later life.