Although you might be short on time during the holidays, your Phoenix physician recommends that you try your best to get as much exercise in. Exercise is always important, but it is particularly important during the holiday season when your stress levels might be higher than normal, as stress can cause a wide range of negative effects on the body including a lowered immune system, higher blood pressure, and more.
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Recently here in Arizona we heard the sad news of a high school football player’s death, potentially related to a hard tackle just minutes earlier. Could a concussion have been the determining factor in this young player’s death? More and more, concussions are becoming a scary reality in football, whether it’s Pop Warner, high school or professional, and many parents are highly fearful, and rightly so, of letting their kids even play the sport. At Family Practice Specialists, we handle a lot of questions regarding football and safety, so let’s break it all down.
It’s usually around this time of year that Family Practice Specialists spend quite a lot of time talking about youth sports, particularly football and concussions. As Phoenix physicians, we are keenly aware of the benefits of team sports, while simultaneously understanding like few others the risks of team sports. Yesterday, news broke of the National Football League’s settlement of $765 million to thousands of players who had sued over head injuries. With this news comes increased awareness on the importance of keeping your child safe as they play the game of football.
It’s Back-to-School time, which also means the little ones are going to be getting back out there on the field in Phoenix for team sports such as football. And, with getting back into gear and with the team comes the fear of injury. As a parent of a young football player, I can tell you first hand how scary it is when you hear the tackle reverberating in your own ears, and instantly the thought of concussion races through your head.
A concussion is a type of brain injury that is characterized by a hit to the head that causes the brain to shift violently in the skull. When these types of hits occur, it can cause lasting damage to the brain, particularly for athletes that suffer concussions repeatedly. Not only is it important to understand what happens when a person sustains a concussion, but also it is important to recognize the signs of a concussion and what to do to get help.
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