Prevent Long-Term Effects of Concussions By Adam Breiner, ND
anger, memory loss, personality changes, and more. You don't have to be an NFL player to be at risk for a concussion because, in reality, we are all at risk for a concussive injury. Slips and falls, everyday play, car accidents; really, any activity where a head hit, or head injury takes place can result in a concussion. As a result of a sudden blow, jolt, or change of direction (e.g., whiplash), the brain suddenly shifts within the skull. This sudden brain shift within the head can result in torn nerve axons, bruising, and dam- age to blood vessels. If not treated properly, damage and inflam- mation can adversely affect brain function, even long after the initial injury.
W Because children's brains are still growing, they are espe-
cially vulnerable to the long-term effects of a concussion. Damage caused by a concussive injury can impede normal brain function and development. The customary advice given is to 'wait and rest' when your child sustains a head hit. However, if you observe
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e have all learned about the consequences of repeti- tive concussive injuries sustained on the football field by professional athletes — cognitive decline, brain fog,
that your child is experiencing headaches, light sensitivity, vision problems, difficulty concentrating, balance problems, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue, you need to take more aggressive action. Poten- tial long-term effects of childhood concussions include abnormal brain activity that lasts for years, memory problems, attention deficits, difficulty handling anger, language impairment, personal- ity changes, anxiety and depression, difficulty making decisions, "foggy" thinking, and more.
Fortunately, the more we learn about the brain, the better we can treat concussions and prevent adverse long-term effects. For patients that seek care close to the time of the concussive injury, we can take immediate steps to minimize damage. We aim to prevent further neuronal injury by reducing the inflammatory cascade that is set in motion after the initial brain injury occurs. The use of select anti-inflammatory nutrients and homeopathics is critical at this juncture. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is also a powerful tool that helps to reduce inflammation and speed the healing process.
Testing Some of the testing involves brain imaging and neurocog-
nitive testing. With the growing awareness of the ramifications associated with concussions, many schools and teams now encourage athletes of all ages to consider having a baseline brain neurocognitive assessment. Many adults also opt to evaluate their brain function. In today's competitive work environment, adults want to stay on top of their "workplace game." We employ a Baseline Brain Neurocognitive Assessment to assess brain func- tion. Also, one of the most accurate tools to measure the func- tioning of the brain is an EEG (electroencephalogram). At our of- fice, we use EEG with sLoreta to accurately image the brain and detect abnormal brainwave patterns. This cutting-edge sLoreta technology has capabilities to measure, in real-time, electrical function deep within the brain's cortex. Using this advanced technology, we can evaluate whether an injury has occurred, as well as whether brainwave patterns associated with metabolic imbalances and overall brain dysregulation are present.
Neurotherapies
With the use of multiple neurotherapies, such as neurostimu- lation, neurofeedback, phototherapy/photobiomodulation, acti-
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