The rise in awareness of sports-related concussions has parents and athletes visiting hospitals at a record rate for concussion-related symptoms.
On Oct. 29, Suburban Hospital will gather a group of leading neurologists and neurological surgeons from the Johns Hopkins Medicine group and NIH to talk about how to prevent, diagnose and treat concussions and related brain injury:
With students across the nation resuming school sports and professional football season in full swing, the dangers of concussions associated with athletic activities are taking center stage once again. Prevention and management of concussion is a growing concern for parents and athletes. As science is discovering, ignoring concussive injuries can have devastating immediate and long-term effects. But what is a concussion? What are its symptoms? How do you treat it?
The free event is set for 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Suburban Hospital Auditorium (8600 Old Georgetown Rd.). Space is limited, so Suburban is asking those interested in attending register by emailing events[dot]suburbanhospital[dot]org or by calling 301-896-3939.
Dr. Gunjan Parikh, from the NIH Traumatic Brain Injury Program and Johns Hopkins Medicine Neurosurgeons Dr. Quoc-Anh Thai and Dr. David Lin will answer questions.
Before the fall 2013 school year, all MCPS high school fall sports athletes went through baseline concussion tests to establish their normal levels of balance and brain function in case of concussion-like symptoms.
After the first fall sports season in which the tests were mandatory, the school system said it had about 45 students take a follow-up test to check for concussions and ongoing symptoms after a concussion.
Students aren’t required to take the follow-up test in order to resume participation after a suspected concussion, but they are required to have approval from a doctor.
Flickr photo by markxmas03
