The Effects of Concussions on Humans.Did you know that every 21 seconds someone suffers a brain injury (Haas)? Children suffer traumatic brain injuries all the time and most of the time they go unnoticed. Most concussions occur when playing a sport such as football, hockey, or lacrosse. Many famous athletes have had their careers, and even their lives, cut short due to concussions. Brain damage and death can result from serial concussions (Schafer). When you suffer a concussion, your brain needs time to recover physically and mentally. Between 2002 and 2006, statistics showed that 52,000 people died from traumatic brain injuries and approximately 275,000 were hospitalized (Fundukian). Everyone's recovery process is different ("Trauma and Pain Treatment"). Although concussions seem minor, they are very serious brain injuries that can cause severe brain damage. A concussion is a temporary loss of normal brain function and can be described in three different ways: mild, moderate, or severe (Schafer). . The worse the concussion, the more dangerous its effects. People usually suffer a concussion when playing high-intensity sports. There are other things that could cause a concussion. One may have been in a car accident or done something as simple as falling and hitting their head. Every time a person receives a blow to the head, their brain is damaged. It is difficult to say how much damage has been done to the brain, because doctors cannot see it from outside the brain (Haas). Concussions are very common. In the United States alone, 1.4 million people suffer from traumatic brain injuries each year (Schafer). The researchers studied fifty brains of people who suffered traumatic brain injuries t...... middle of paper ......should contact emergency services immediately. You also need to get plenty of rest when you have a concussion. You may have to stay out longer than expected, but this is because your brain needs time to heal physically and mentally. The worst thing you can do while suffering from a concussion is to go out and start playing sports or other activities when your brain has not yet healed from your last concussion. Concussions may not have many long-term effects, but if you don't take it seriously, you could suffer serious brain injuries that could have devastating outcomes. Concussions should not be taken as a joke and should always receive proper care and treatment. You should not play a sport before your concussion is fully healed, because you may end up staying out of the sport for longer than you initially expected.