2.5 Million Teens Report Having Had a Concussion Over The Past Year

Around 2.5 million teens who either play sports or are physically active recently reported suffering a concussion or some sort of head injury over the past year, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In an article written by Linda Searing from The Washington Post, that number accounts for 15 percent of U.S. high school students. Of those students, nearly 1 million reported suffering at least two or more concussions over the past twelve months. Spears says that those who are most at risk were teens who played more than one sport. “About 30 percent of athletes who played on three or more teams had at least one concussion in the preceding year,” says Spears. Doctors recommend that those who suffer any symptoms for a possible concussion should immediately be taken off the field and seen by medical professionals. “Researchers have found that returning to the playing field before full recovery increases the risk for another concussion, and a second concussion can be more severe. Symptoms of a concussion include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory gaps, trouble concentrating, blurred vision, vomiting and being knocked out,” says Spears. With so many teenagers reporting signs of suffering head injuries over the past year, the result is staggering.