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Cumulative Effects of Concussions

Concussions are a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can have serious long-term effects on the brain. The effects of a concussion can range from mild to severe, and can last for days, weeks, or even months.   Unfortunately, concussions are often difficult to diagnose, as symptoms can be subtle and difficult to detect. This is why early detection of concussions is so important. Early detection can help prevent further complications, help in providing the right treatment to help a person recover faster, as well as to help prevent multiple concussions.  The cumulative effects of multiple concussions can be devastating. While a single concussion can lead to serious physical and psychological effects, the long-term effects of multiple concussions over time can be even more severe. It is important to detect concussions early, as the effects of multiple concussions can be cumulative and may cause long-term damage.   Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to repeated head trauma. It is associated with specific reported instances of long-term effects that bear resemblance to Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, neurological deficits, and psychoses. Unfortunately, there are currently no effective treatments available for multiple concussions over time.   Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) is a rare condition that can occur when a second concussion occurs before the prior concussion has resolved. This can result in the brain’s inability to regulate its blood flow temporarily, which can lead to secondary brain damage. SIS appears to be limited to young males.   Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are a combination of physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms that can persist for months, sometimes a year or more after a concussion. The effects of multiple concussions can be cumulative, and those who experience multiple concussions are at an increased risk of experiencing these symptoms. Those who suffer from multiple concussions are also more likely to lose consciousness with each successive concussion. Other effects of multiple concussions include impaired long and short-term memory, longer recovery time with each successive concussion, lower scores on completing auditory tasks, lower cognitive and visual processing speeds, reduced attention span, reduced reaction time, increased risk of depression, and increased risk of CTE.   Early detection and proper management of concussions is essential in order to prevent long-term damage. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion and seek medical attention if they persist. If you or someone you know has experienced multiple concussions, it is important to seek medical advice in order to reduce the risk of long-term effects.  This is where NOXBOX comes in. NOXBOX is a revolutionary new product that can help in early detection of concussions. It is a simple-to-use, cloud-based digital medical record that aims to provide 95% accurate results in less than five minutes. NOXBOX is a cost-effective product that can be purchased in quantity by any school system, EMT service, police department, ER room, clinic or hospital. With NOXBOX, medical professionals can quickly and accurately diagnose a concussion, allowing for faster treatment and better outcomes.   So how does NOXBOX work? A single droplet of blood from the ear lobe or a clean fingertip provides enough sample. Then NOXBOX measures biomarkers specific to concussion at ultra-high sensitivity directly from the blood sample in less than 5 minutes.   Following the easy, step-by-step directions for use, the results can be sent directly to any paired smartphone. A digital medical record is also created and can be uploaded as needed.   NOXBOX aims to be the first real time, point-of-contact concussion detection test, to determine within 5 minutes if you should be back on the field, or in the back of an ambulance.

Second Impact Syndrome

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Concussions - Definition & Detection

Concussions are a serious problem in the U.S., but they're not well understood by the general public. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 7.8 million concussions occur annually in the United States alone, but it's likely another 7.8 million go unreported. This is a conservative estimate, as there is no way to know how many more go unreported.  Concussions are a common brain injury, and they're becoming more common. They can happen to anyone, from professional athletes to children playing sports, and the long-term effects can be serious.  A concussion is when someone suffers a blow to the head (or some other part of their body) that disrupts normal brain function. Some people have the misconception that concussions only occur in sports, but this is not the case: there are many ways to suffer a concussion. The causes of concussions range from team sports to industrial accidents, vehicle collisions and falls.   Because concussions are so common, it's important to know how to spot them—and what treatment options are available if you or someone you know suffers from one.  Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, feeling faint, fatigue, nausea and vomiting (especially in children), sensitivity to light or sound, memory loss (particularly short-term), confusion/difficulty concentrating on tasks at hand (such as driving), inappropriate behavior (such as laughing at inappropriate moments), depression, blurred vision and ringing in the ears.  Concussions are a serious, often life-altering condition that can be difficult to diagnose. There are no real-time tests for a concussion, so the only way to determine whether or not someone has suffered a concussion is through a physical exam. The exam typically consists of a history and physical examination, which may include questions about the event in question as well as neurological tests such as the finger-waving test and flashlight test.  If someone has suffered more severe concussive events, unconsciousness or an obvious head injury they are likely to be evacuated for care. For those who suffer from Stage 1 and 2 concussions, which are more subtle, they may evade detection during a sporting event, accident scene or combat, and concussion testing may be delayed until hours after the event.  This can also make them difficult to treat because they often go undetected until they’ve already done damage to your brain. Traditionally, the only way to truly know if you have suffered a concussion is by consulting with your doctor or health care professional.   While there is no definitive test for severity of concussion yet available at point-of-need or real time, CT scans and neurological testing can typically provide some information about the severity of a person's injury hours after the event occurs.  The long-term effects on a population-wide basis largely remain unknown because of the lack of research funding available for this issue. But some long-term effects can include Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A combination of physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms that can persist for months, sometimes a year or more after concussion. The economic impact of concussions is also significant—and growing rapidly as more people become aware of their severity as well as what treatments are available to help heal from them. This includes medical costs as well as lost wages due to time off work while recovering from the injury.  That's why we have created NOXBOX. It's a device we are developing that is the first real time, point of need concussion detection kit. NOXBOX is developing the first under 5-minute concussion test for point-of-need use. An affordable test kit that any school system, EMT service, police department, ER room, clinic or hospital can purchase in quantity.