Colorado Avalanche: Facing Concussions in Modern Hockey
What is CTE?
What’s so bad about CTE? Per the researchers at Boston University, the repeated trauma to the head causes a growth of abnormal proteins in the brain called tau.
The buildup of this protein over time (from days to years) leads to brain degeneration which has been linked to memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia.
But that’s not all. There are headaches and migraines. Some last for years and are reportedly completely debilitating. There are a lot of very sad stories about athletes’ lives ruined by concussions, detailed by their horrible long-lasting symptoms. I’m sure, even reading about this, you’ve already recalled a few.
I’m going to quick look at just three players; a football player, a wrestler and a hockey player, that have been seriously impacted by injuries from head trauma. There are many other stories — Nadia will help me tell more than a few — but these are three that really stuck out to me.
Next: The Football Player