Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy also known as (CTE) is a brain disease that is caused due to a history of repetitive brain trauma. CTE is formed by a protein called Tau that forms clumps that slowly spread throughout the brain, killing brain cells. This disease is mostly found in military veterans and athletes, football is one of the most common sport that you see CTE found frequently in players and retired players. CTE has only been researched for the past 10-15 years. Before researchers discovered the brain trauma, people believed it was just “road rage” since most athletes were using steroids. This disease is mostly found in military veterans and athletes, football is one of the most common sport that you see CTE found frequently in players and retired players.
Doctors and scientists have been researching and analyzing CTE extensively in the past decade because of the impact it has done to many lives. CTE has been outlined in four major stages. The first stage is defined by headaches, loss of attention, and loss of concentration. It can also include depression. The second stage is much more severe. It is also marked by headaches, concentration problems, and memory loss, but added to the symptoms are mood swings, and the possibility of suicidal thoughts. Stage three entail all of the previous symptoms, visuospatial issues, difficulty with decision making, and increased lack of interest. Stage four, is the worst stage it is marked by more serious memory loss, loss of concentration, aggressiveness, language difficulties, paranoia, and depression. Football is a sport that involves direct contact with one another and can lead to many injuries. Football players are nearly seven times more likely to be injured during a game than in practice. Ligament sprains are 30% of injuries in football..Concussions make up 7.4 percent of all injuries in college football players. Heat illness is also a big factor to take into consideration. Many families have lost loved ones due to the effects of this sport including former NFL player Tyler Sash. Tyler Sash was a former, Professional football player who played for the Giants, Tyler played as the safety position for the team. Tyler played football his whole life, he played in college for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and then he was drafted into the NFL in 2011 and played until 2012. Tyler was found dead at the age of 27 in 2015 because of an pain medication overdose. Tyler had a total of 5 concussions in his football career. Tyler was arrested in his hometown, Oskaloosa, for public intoxication after leading the police on a four-block chase with a motorized scooter, a pursuit that ended with Sash fleeing toward a wooded area. After retiring from the NFL, Tyler’s life went into a complete 360. Once Tyler returned home, everyone saw a change in his mental and physical behavior. After retiring Tyler tried to work at different job’s and Sash he was unable to seek employment because he had difficulty focusing long enough to finish a job. Tyler’s family told doctors that Sash had headaches, lost his wallet several times and had trouble doing other routine tasks like composing or reading emails. After his death Tyler’s mom donated his brain to be tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. After examining his brain Doctors stated that he had stage 2 CTE, CTE was found in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain and in the amygdala. Tyler’s family and friends had many rallies and talked to many kids about the effect that this sport can hold, after discussing the issue, people took this issue into consideration as of a way that there has to be a change. The NFL took a looked into this problem and have talked to to the media, explaining how they are making changes to all of the helmets of the players. The NFL is requiring players to wear more pads,. Lee Hanson, founder of the firm making the Guardian Cap, says his product reduces head impacts "up to 33%" in lab tests. The Guardian Caps have compartments padded with foam rubber that are arranged on top of the helmets, and Hanson says using these compartments dissipates energy better than a solid shell. One issue is whether soft shells might stick together or be more easily grabbed and cause neck injuries. Hanson says his caps "just slip off of each other."
Sports has been a part of many lives since the late 1800’s. When you’re going to a professional game, you’re going to enjoy the game and just have a good time. But, this isn’t the case for the players who are on the field. On average 12 high school athlete players die each year because of injuries. Football involves intense contact on each play and the football industry has said there has been 400,000 plus injuries. After the NFL looked into changing the padding of football helmets there has been many skepticism, that the helmets will cause more injuries then before and will cause neck injuries. The football industry needs to understand that, what they’re doing right now is not working because you hear of injuries happening each day and no person should be scared to walk on the field, not knowing if they will walk off the field the same way they did when they walked on. All the companies that make football equipment should work together and gather all the data of all injuries that has been occurring and make a strategic plan on what they need to fix because what they “think” is working, is not actually working in anyone’s favor besides the companies.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy also known as (CTE) is a brain disease that is caused due to a history of repetitive brain trauma. Brain trauma is a very serious topic that needs to be discussed among many piers, their are kids who are currently playing a sport that involves contact and parents who support their children in this act. There has to be a change, there should be marches and speeches explaining the causes and effects of how dangerous it is to play these sports. If you’re going to the doctors to get a physical-checkup to play a sport, your doctor should discuss the dangers, that can occur on or off the field.