Concussions in The National Football League
The NFL has a major issue at hand, that is concussions and the lifelong effects they have had on players in all levels of the game, this is not the first time the league has found its self in this situation and it must once again ‘’adapt’’ in order to get through this dark period. In recent years the National Football League (NFL) has been in hot water after concussions, a traumatic brain injury, has surfaced as a result of the growth in medical sciences in sports. Players are developing a disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) a disease that impairs memory and emotional control. This disease has caused many players to live a life of suffering and is very sad to many families …show more content…
Players are constantly receiving and giving vicious blows to the head during play. Hard enough that most players at some point in their careers receive a concussion.’’ Between the years 2012 to 2014 the NFL reported at least 692 players diagnosed with a concussion while playing’’ (CNN 1). Impacts strong enough to create a concussion are very violent. Concussions happen in football when a players head gets rocked so hard that their brain literarily smashes into the inner walls of the skull. Often causing both hemorrhaging and inflammation. Players that have received many concussions throughout their career have been found to obtain CTE post retirement, towards the end of their lives.’’ This trauma triggers progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau. These changes in the brain can begin months, years, or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement’’ (Boston University 1). This disease is the result of years of head trauma. And recent studies done on past players have shown that majority of athletes with long careers eventually end up with CTE. Families of ex-football players that have obtained the disease report that it is heartbreaking to see their loved ones with the disease due to the effects it has on the brain. CTE eventually eats the brain down, ‘’ brain degeneration is …show more content…
The sport has often been targeted for it violent nature and over the years have had to adapt to the circumstances. The same must be done to lessen the chances of a concussion so athletes and be safe as millions enjoy watching the sport. And tragic diseases such as CTE will not be a fear when playing. The NFL has made changes to better protect the athletes and it was greatly made a difference, however it will need to continue to adapt in order to gradually make Americas beloved sport
The NFL has a major issue at hand, that is concussions and the lifelong effects they have had on players in all levels of the game, this is not the first time the league has found its self in this situation and it must once again ‘’adapt’’ in order to get through this dark period. In recent years the National Football League (NFL) has been in hot water after concussions, a traumatic brain injury, has surfaced as a result of the growth in medical sciences in sports. Players are developing a disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) a disease that impairs memory and emotional control. This disease has caused many players to live a life of suffering and is very sad to many families …show more content…
Players are constantly receiving and giving vicious blows to the head during play. Hard enough that most players at some point in their careers receive a concussion.’’ Between the years 2012 to 2014 the NFL reported at least 692 players diagnosed with a concussion while playing’’ (CNN 1). Impacts strong enough to create a concussion are very violent. Concussions happen in football when a players head gets rocked so hard that their brain literarily smashes into the inner walls of the skull. Often causing both hemorrhaging and inflammation. Players that have received many concussions throughout their career have been found to obtain CTE post retirement, towards the end of their lives.’’ This trauma triggers progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau. These changes in the brain can begin months, years, or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement’’ (Boston University 1). This disease is the result of years of head trauma. And recent studies done on past players have shown that majority of athletes with long careers eventually end up with CTE. Families of ex-football players that have obtained the disease report that it is heartbreaking to see their loved ones with the disease due to the effects it has on the brain. CTE eventually eats the brain down, ‘’ brain degeneration is …show more content…
The sport has often been targeted for it violent nature and over the years have had to adapt to the circumstances. The same must be done to lessen the chances of a concussion so athletes and be safe as millions enjoy watching the sport. And tragic diseases such as CTE will not be a fear when playing. The NFL has made changes to better protect the athletes and it was greatly made a difference, however it will need to continue to adapt in order to gradually make Americas beloved sport