Concussions in teens on the rise

A new report by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association shows that concussions are on the rise, particularly amongst teenagers, and they hit a record high between 2010 and 2015.

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According to an article in Time, laws requiring more stringent monitoring of people who suffer head injuries in sports went into effect, which is when concussion diagnoses started to rise.

“The insurance company reports that more than 936,000 claims were filed for diagnosed concussions among its members, and that rates for adolescents between age 10 and 19 surged 71 percent during that time, while rates for adults increased by 26 percent,” the article reads. “Most of the teen spike is due to sports … since rates increased sharply during the sport’s fall season, according to the claims data. Much of the increased diagnosis can be tied to heightened awareness of concussions and the health effects of brain injury, after states enforced laws requiring athletes who experienced brain injuries to obtain medical clearance before resuming practice or play in a game, the study authors say. Teens were five times more likely to be diagnosed with a concussion than all other age groups combined.”

The study showed that males are more likely to be diagnosed with a concussion, but female concussions are also on the rise. In fact, they increased by 118 percent over the last six years, while male concussions rose 48 percent.

The study also revealed that those who do suffer a concussion are also experiencing post-concussion syndrome. Post-concussion syndrome reportedly doubled from 2010 to 2015.

Post-concussion syndrome is a complex disorder in which various symptoms — such as headaches and dizziness — last for weeks and sometimes months after the injury that caused the concussion, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“The data suggests that new laws are raising awareness of the dangers of concussions, and that more younger people are getting evaluated for concussion and post-concussion symptoms after a head injury,” the article reads. “Such awareness, say doctors, is critical to continuing to provide proper care for concussions and limiting their potential long-term health effects, which can include serious neurological damage.”