Football Frenzy: Health on the Turf | NEC Check Up | January 2012

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NEC Check Up
Your source for the latest health news and more from Neighbors Emergency Center.

January 2012

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Our latest Neighbors Emergency Center is set to open in Baytown, Texas, in March.

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Keeping the Pulse

Heavy-Hitting Sport
With the NFL Super Bowl right around the corner, it seems like everyone is in a football frenzy. Whether you participate in the watch-parties or you're just there for the commercials, learning more about this physical contact sport can give you an at-home advantage the next time you want to quiz those football buffs or are in need of some sports-related health trivia.

Retired, Overweight Players Have Worse Memory
In a new study from Translational Psychiatry, researchers found that overweight retired NFL players were more likely to lose cognitive function and memory.

Due to the nature of the sport, multiple head injuries and concussions were to blame for declining cognitive function in retired NFL players. The added weight gain only increased these problems, researchers found.

'Obesity is a growing epidemic in youth, collegiate, and professional football players,' researcher Daniel Amen and colleagues wrote in the study. 'But no study to date has investigated the effects of weight on brain function in professional athletes. Our results suggest this trend will have negative, long-term consequences on brain health and may lead to complications.

Overweight, retired athletes had reduced blood flow in certain areas of the brain: attention, reasoning, organizing and planning.

It's common knowledge that professional athletes exposed to head trauma are more likely to have an increased risk of brain function. However, this was the first time weight gain had ever been included in the topic debate.

The Results
Researchers found that more attention and memory loss occurred when retired football players gained weight. In the study, researchers compared the brain's blood flow of 38 healthy-weight and 38 overweight retired NFL players. Overweight athletes had reduced blood flow in certain areas of the brain: attention, reasoning, organizing and planning.

Conclusion
Researchers and experts agree that in order to combat this growing risk, the best solution is education and awareness for athletes. Off the field, learning how to manage and address their weight can lead to a healthier lifestyle for professional retired athletes.

NEC is Here When You Need Us
If you or your children get tackled with a sports-related injury, NEC is here to help. You won't have to wait for hours and you'll be seen within minutes. We've got a neighborhood emergency center near you, so finding us is always easy. Plus, we're open 24/7 so we can see you any hour of the night or day when it's convenient for you.

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Did You Know?

Super Bowl Facts

6% – Americans who call in sick the Monday after the Big Game
20% – Increase in antacid sales
8 million – Pounds of guacamole consumed
$50 million – Amount Americans spend on food 4 days prior
14,500 tons – Amount of chips consumed

Always In the Know
At Neighbors Emergency Center, we are committed to providing you timely information and always welcome your feedback. If there is a topic of interest you have in mind, please email us at info@nec24.com.

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