Today, doctors and researchers are taking concussions in children more seriously. Researchers have found that young brains don’t recover from concussions as quickly as they originally thought. And they’ve found that children’s brains are also more susceptible to second-impact syndrome in which the brain can suffer grievous injury as a result of suffering another blow to the head shortly after a first blow.
The problem remains - kids are still returning to the playing field too quickly after experiencing a head injury. The causes are many - parents may not know any better, athletes may hide their symptoms, and coaches may not be aware of the seriousness of concussions.
According to a report in Time magazine, a study found that from 2005 to 2008, 41% of athletes with concussions returned to the field too soon - and that can make them vulnerable to second-impact syndrome. While the American Academy of Neurology recommends that an athlete whose initial concussion symptoms last longer than 15 minutes be benched until he or she is symptom-free for a week - the study found that 16% of high school football players who lost consciousness during a concussion returned to the field the same day.
It certainly is. While most people diagnosed with pneumonia eventually develop a symptomatic cough - not all of them do. Symptoms of pneumonia can vary widely.
For instance, one woman recently had a cough for weeks. When she went to her physician she was initially diagnosed with bronchitis. She had aching lungs, and a racking cough that was so bad she injured the intercostal muscles between her ribs, but the physician did not hear fluid in her lungs. She was also fever-free. A week later, after the original antibiotics didn’t improve her condition, she was given a chest x-ray that came back abnormal. A subsequent CT scan revealed she had pneumonia in both lungs. A stronger course of antibiotics eliminated the pneumonia.
One of the more inconvenient injuries people experience is “tennis elbow” - pain felt from the outside of the elbow and down the forearm (if the pain is experienced on the inside of your elbow, it is known as “golf elbow”). It can make the simplest things, like turning a doorknob, using a screwdriver, opening a jar, brushing your teeth, lifting a fork, or swinging a racket uncomfortable and difficult.
Despite its name, tennis elbow is most often caused by repetitive everyday actions in one’s life - the repeated contraction of the forearm muscles used to straighten and raise your hand and wrist. Think of carpenters, mechanics, assembly line workers or landscapers who use their arms and hands in a repetitive manner each day. These repetitive motions can inflame or tear the tendons that attach the forearm muscle to the outside bone of the elbow. The result is pain that is exacerbated when you have to move your wrist or squeeze your hands.
Every year I treat experienced outdoorsmen and women, skiers, snowmobilers and hunters in the ER for hypothermia. Most of them are not strangers to the hazards of Wisconsin winters, yet they consistently make one critical mistake - overestimating their body’s ability to fend off exposure to cold and wind.
To avoid hypothermia you have to protect yourself from wind, fatigue, dehydration and getting wet - be it falling in a stream or excessive sweating. One of the best preventative measures is simply dressing smart - with breathable, wicking layers. Wet or damp clothing increases heat loss - so it’s important to pace yourself to avoid excessive sweating. Also be sure to unzip or remove outer shells as you heat up, but be certain to put them back on as soon as you rest.
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As the nation debates a new health care plan, there is one critical element to consider - reducing unnecessary trips to hospital emergency rooms (ERs). According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, each year in America unnecessary trips to the ER cost $18 billion. Emergency rooms are designed for those with injuries and illnesses that demand immediate care and/or are life-threatening.
It can be difficult to know whether you should visit a walk-in clinic or an emergency room - following are some guidelines. In the event that you are uncertain whether urgent care is necessary, call your doctor. If you are unable to reach your doctor, then visit the Emergency Room.
Call 911 or immediately go to the Emergency Room if you experience the following.
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