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What Is a Concussion?
A common assumption is that an athlete must be "knocked out" to sustain a concussion. That's not true. Any change in mental status or function qualifies as a concussion. Unconsciousness, though clearly a severe injury, does not occur frequently. The classic "having your bell rung" or "ding" occurs fairly often and is often ignored, which can be a serious oversight.
Recognizing a subtle concussion is extremely important in preventing the rare but deadly Second Impact Syndrome (SIS). SIS occurs when an athlete sustains a second blow to the head while still symptomatic from the first "ding" even if the second blow is relatively gentle (a slap can provide enough force) or occurs days or weeks later. Sudden swelling of the brain leads rapidly (within two or three minutes) to unconsciousness or cardiac arrest. Fifty percent of people who sustain SIS die, and the rest have a very high risk of permanent brain damage.
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