Concussions and blows to the head are common occurrences in many sports, and as a result, are often treated as minor injuries. But health experts warn that even the most minor head injuries should be taken seriously.

“There is no such thing as an ‘insignificant’ head injury,” says Richard Kinar, a director with the Ottawa-based Brain Injury Association of Canada, which engages in research, education and advocacy regarding brain injuries. “They all can lead to long-term disabilities.”

Head injuries can be caused by motor-vehicle accidents, falls and a variety of sports and recreational activities such as football, soccer and skiing. Almost one-third of brain injuries are sustained by children and youth, and many occur while participating in these types of activities. Seniors are also particularly susceptible to head injury, mainly due to falls.

Head injuries range widely in severity, with the most severe cases causing death. In fact, injury is the leading cause of death among children and youth, and 50% of all deaths from injury are from brain injuries, according to ThinkFirst Canada, a Toronto-based charity dedicated to education in the prevention of brain injuries.

“The lives lost from trauma are gigantic,” says Dr. Charles Tator, a brain surgeon at Toronto Western Hospital and founder of ThinkFirst, “especially among young people.”

Among more mild brain injuries, concussions are the most common. Caused by any blow to the head that results in a sudden jarring of the brain, a concussion sometimes involves loss of consciousness and, for a short time, affects the way a person thinks and remembers.

With proper management, up to 90% of concussions last no longer than a few days or weeks, according to ThinkFirst Canada. But research shows that when individuals suffer multiple concussions, permanent disability and health problems can result.

“Usually, people recover from one concussion,” explains Tator. “But people who have had several concussions may not fully recover, and may carry the effects — the significant effects — of repeated concussions.”

These effects can include learning and behavioural problems, changes in personality, memory loss and brain disease, among others. Head injuries have also been directly linked to the early onset of dementia. These effects are all permanent, Tator adds, because the medical community has not found a way to repair the damaged brain.

Many people are unaware of the long-term damage that concussions can cause. And, because the term “concussion” is used so frequently, many people tend to consider the injury less significant than it is.

To convey the seriousness of this injury, some doctors have begun replacing the term “concussion” with “mild traumatic brain injury.”

There is also a push to educate the public on the symptoms and appropriate treatment of brain injuries, as well as prevention strategies.

Kinar emphasizes that it’s critical to recognize the symptoms of a concussion, because failing to treat it properly can lead to more serious problems.

For instance, those who return to a sport before a concussion has healed face a higher risk of suffering a second concussion, which is often more severe than the first.

“If kids have suffered from a head injury in a particular activity,” Kinar says, “they really have to be completely problem-free before they go back into playing anything.”

Symptoms of a concussion can include headache, nausea, memory loss, mood swings and fatigue, among others. Individuals suffering from any of these symptoms are generally urged to get lots of mental and physical rest, and to return to normal activity in a very gradual manner.

Because little can be done to treat brain injuries, experts say, it’s critical to focus on their prevention. Researchers estimate that 90% of all injuries are predictable and preventable.

“Most people think that these are accidents that happen,” says Kinar, “but, usually, it’s not an accident.”

The most highly recommended preventative strategy is to wear a helmet. When engaging in such risky activities as bicycling, skiing, snowboarding, skating and tobogganing, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a brain injury by as much as 88%, according to ThinkFirst Canada.

Other preventative measures include getting properly trained before engaging in sports and recreational activities, and ensuring your equipment is in good shape. IE