The Issue Of Concussions And Cte Hurting Nfl Athletes

Everyone enjoys watching sports, playing sports, and cheering on their favorite team. But, in most contact sports we love players for 'hitting hard' or making tough plays that usually end with injuries. Most common in football and other major contact sports, such, hockey, and boxing, CTE is a rising concern for many athletes and their families. People don’t realize that helmets do not prevent concussions but rather were made to prevent skull fracturing. Concussions are caused by the brain hitting the inside of the skull. Some people believe that the National Football League (NFL) is responsible for the damage that the players suffer, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), by paying for their medical bills. However, others oppose this idea saying that players should be aware of the risks they take when playing football and be willing to pay the consequences. I believe that they should increase their involvement and research in preventing, or treating, the effects of CTE.

Today players are often more worried about the number on their paychecks than their health. It’s a job and they realize that if they don’t play well they don’t get paid. With this in the back of their mind, many players choose not to tell their coach that they are suffering concussion symptoms in fear that they might be benched. So if a player thinks they have a concussion and they tell the coach then they could be out for weeks, if not months, without receiving the big paychecks they were used to receiving. Even in high school, athletes are afraid that they won't be able to play in a game that they care so much about. However, hit after hit can lead to severe problems. One example of these consequences is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE, a disease only recognizable after death, which has symptoms of memory loss and unclear thinking. CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head and concussions which occur frequently when playing football. It all starts with repeated head trauma which is why this disease is particularly associated with football. The effects of CTE are being seen all around the world as former athletes with the disease are struggling with living life. It is a growing problem in many brains of former football players who have committed suicide to have CTE after having concussions in their career. Families of these players diagnosed with CTE don’t have the financial funds to support the medical attention that their loved ones need. Many of these players who have been diagnosed with CTE also have depression. More and more players and committing suicides due to unbearable thoughts about life. Forty five year old Steeler Terry Long committed suicide by drinking antifreeze. Terry Long is just one example of the hundreds of players committing suicide. Former Chicago Bear player Dave Duerson committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest and leaving a note asking that his brain be studied, this note stated 'Please see that my brain is given to the NFL brain bank. ' Duerson is later diagnosed with CTE reported Dr. Mckee. After years of giving their body and mind to the sport, NFL athletes and their family members ask the NFL to give more support back to the injured players by helping them financially through their diagnosis'.

Unfortunately, the NFL isn't trying to providing players with safe equipment and rules. Although some rules have been modified to decrease the impact of players, the League has not enforced other rules that could decrease the long term consequences of unreported concussions such as having all players checked for concussions during time-outs and half-time. “A total of 92% of concussed players returned to practice in less than seven days. More than one-half of the players returned to play within one day, and symptoms resolved in a short time in the vast majority of cases. ' But, the NFL can't be blamed for players not recognizing the symptoms of a concussion because that is solely the responsibility of a player. The NFL is only responsible for monitoring the sport and keeping it fair. Players must be aware of the hits that their body takes when playing the sport that they love. Everyone can agree that concussion research funding is necessary by the NFL to make sure that the most recent technology is being used in order to find a way to prevent concussions and to treat CTE. Although they are dope, buying new uniforms every year is a waste of money that could be applied to research and experiments. With a “team average of 61 players, teams often spend close to $15250 on jerseys”. In order to fund money for this research, we must sacrifice our wants to fulfill our needs.

Although the NFL should supply players with the most protective equipment and an accepting environment to express feelings of concussion symptoms, all players must be aware of the risks they take when they play football professionally. The best way to truly diagnose a concussion is to have an athlete recognize the symptoms and tell somebody. All athletes are educated on what symptoms to look or are tested for their brain capacity to be compared to when they might have a concussion. After learning about concussions, athletes are responsible for recognizing symptoms and deciding whether or not to play. If an athlete decides to go back into the game, than they must pay the consequences later on in life. It is crazy to blame the NFL for the bad decisions athletes make, especially when the only way to determine if a concussion is present is by the player making it know. A solution could be found to prevent concussions and stop CTE from hurting athletes for the rest of their life. I believe that all teams should require periodic check ups on players who are not playing. Although funding seems to be an issue, many other luxuries are given to players that have little to no benefits, especially when compared to the benefit further concussion research would have. When we play professional sports, we must be aware of the risks that we are taking and we have to accept the consequences that these risks hold.

Athletes love to play the sports and fans can’t imagine life without their favorite team. Our country strongly supports athletics, but fails to recognize the consequences of playing these sports. Although athletes must be aware the risks they take and the symptoms of injuries that they may have, supporters of these sports must do everything in their power to ensure that athletes will not suffer from long term consequences. For this reason, funding in research of CTE and concussion development must be done. If we are not able to further demonstrate our knowledge of concussions and develop new technology that will be able to diagnose and monitor concussions, then we should not continue to encourage the playing of the game. After decades of research, we have a better understanding of the cause and symptoms of CTE. However, today's society has focused on the score rather than the well-being of the players. We must continue in our research and protect the brains of our future and the memories of our past.