A new study has found that women may have an increased chance of suffering from lasting physical and mental symptoms regarding head injuries. According to HealthDay News, a study of 2,000 concussion sufferers found that women were more likely than men to have symptoms still one year later. The problems included fuzzy memory and difficulty concentrating in addition to headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Women and men, however, showed similar recovery times after experiencing traumatic injuries to other parts of the body.
What the Study Shows
While the reasons are unclear, this is not the first study to find sex differences in concussion recovery. Many have found that on average, women improve more slowly post-concussion regardless of the cause of the injury. The new study also included a control group of people who had suffered orthopedic injuries to see whether women tended to recover more slowly from injuries in general, but that wasn’t the case.
Researchers say the findings of this study strengthen the case that women’s slower recovery is related specifically to concussions. They say while women do generally have a good recovery after a concussion, some have persistent physical, mental or emotional symptoms. In the study, women did have higher rates of depression and anxiety diagnoses before the concussion compared to men, and those are risk factors for prolonged concussion symptoms, researchers said.
The Danger of Concussions
We know now that the danger of concussions exists in a number of sports that both children and adults participate in, including football, baseball, hockey and cheerleading. If left untreated or ignored, concussions can cause lifelong, catastrophic damage. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury or TBI caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.
This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes damaging brain cells. Medical providers may categorize a concussion as a “mild brain injury.” While they may not be life-threatening, we’ve seen a number of studies over the years, which demonstrate that concussions can be serious and have lifelong consequences, particularly if they are not properly treated.
Suppose you have suffered a concussion or the long-term effects of a concussion as a result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. In that case, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries, damages and losses, including costs of ongoing treatment and care. An experienced brain injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options better.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20210408/women-more-prone-to-concussions-long-term-harms
