Health blog Category: Concussion
Concussions: Nutrition Guidelines
Recovering from a concussion requires more than just sitting out from sports and limiting screen time. Eating healthy and maintaining good nutrition is equally important.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Increase whole foods
- Vegetables (baked, sautéed, raw)
- Fruit
- Whole Grains (whole wheat, oats, brown rice, quinoa)
- Proteins (meats, beans, legumes, nuts, full fat dairy)
- Increase omega 3 fatty acids
- Salmon
- Walnuts
- Olive oils
- Fish oil
- Decrease processed foods
- Chips
- Desserts
- Fried foods
- Refined grains/flour (white bread)
- Decrease sugar intake
- White sugar
- Artificial sugar (splenda, sucralose, etc)
- Soda /Juice concentrate
- Adequate water intake for hydration and blood flow
- At least eight 8 oz glasses of water daily
- Limit caffeine
- No alcohol
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with a concussion don’t wait, call LSTC today at, 703-450-4300.
Read full blogSigns and Symptoms of Concussions
Most people think that in order to have a concussion you must “black out” or lose consciousness, however this is not as common as people think. There are many other signs and symptoms of a concussion. The key to treating concussions, is being able to identify them early on to avoid further injury to our brains.
Some common symptoms following a brain injury include but are not limited to:
- Headache · Pressure in Head
- Neck Pain · Nausea or Vomiting
- Dizziness · Blurred Vision
- Balance Problems · Sensitivity to Light
- Sensitivity to Noise · Confusion
- Difficulty Remembering
- Fatigue or Low Energy
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- More Emotional
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Nervous or Anxious
If you or your athlete experience any of these symptoms, seek treatment right away.
Read full blogNutrition for Concussion Management
The body was created to heal itself under the right conditions. With any injury, an inflammatory process begins to help repair and realign tissue that has been disrupted in some way. The body begins this process on its own, but is aided with the help of proper nutrition. What you place in your body can either help or hinder this healing process depending on the vitamins and minerals its made up of, or the “anti-nutrients” it contains that slow down proper nutrition absorption.
Healing for concussions is similar.
When In Doubt, Go Get Checked Out!
Concussions are gaining more and more attention as more research is being done about this often ambiguous subject. In the past, athletes were often said to have gotten their “bell rung” or were considered to have gotten “lit up” after a hard hit in a contact sport. Unfortunately, many were told to “shake it off” and get back in the game if they felt a little better soon after the hit. We now know that that is an unsafe practice and can lead to long-lasting effects, and in the worst-case scenarios death.
Who is Affected by Concussions?
Read full blogThe Effect of Concussions on Various Systems
Contrary to common belief, concussions can have an effect on multiple systems in the body. The diagram above breaks down the various systems that can be affected by a concussion. One system can drive the other and symptoms can present differently for each individual.
Here is how concussions can affect each system:
Vestibulo-ocular
- Vestibular- Common vestibular complaints include dizziness, nausea, and instability (walking or still).
What to do About a Concussion
Many people think that a concussion only happens in football games or car crashes. But the truth is, all athletes are at just as high a risk for these brain injuries.
So how do you reduce the risk of you or your athletes getting sidelined by a concussion?
What is a Concussion and How Does it Occur?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way the brain functions.
Read full blogConcussion Management at LSTC
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way our brain functions. When the brain sustains trauma, it is our body’s natural reaction to respond and in doing so, the body releases chemicals to help in the healing process. These chemical alterations cause a change in the blood flow and metabolic activity surrounding our brain, and are likely the cause of post concussion symptoms. It is important to remember that every concussion is different and our body’s response will be different from others.
Read full blogReducing Negative Impacts of Concussions
Your days have probably gotten a lot busier with the start of school and fall sports season in full swing. But as sports practices ramp up, so does your risk of injury. You may think that a concussion only happens in football games or car crashes. But the truth is, any sports players are at just as high a risk.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions.
Safely Returning to Play
If you have participated in sports there is a good chance that you, or one of your teammates, have suffered from a concussion.
Concussion research is steadily growing and health clinicians are gaining more insight about the best practices for athletes who have sustained a concussion. While there are various factors to consider, evaluate, and manage, safely returning to sport should be taken seriously by the athlete, coaches, and parents.
Return to play progression:
Return-to-play (RTP) protocols take an athlete from stationary exercise, to full sport-specific execution before returning the field or court.
Could I Have a Concussion? Signs and Symptoms
The first thing that might come to mind when you hear the word ‘concussion is probably ‘football’. While tackles in football certainly do account for concussions that happen among athletes, you can get a concussion playing other sports too. Concussions can halt you in your tracks and keep you from your daily activities. If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of a concussion, you will need to take a break from such things as using your cell phone, computer or any other multi-media devices as well as from watching TV until the concussion has healed.
Read full blog