NBA Deals With Concussion Concerns; Moderate Drinking may be 'Cardiotoxic' for Elderly

Concussion Concerns Hang Over NBA Finals

On the eve of the 2015 National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship Finals, the topic of concussions and sports has reared its head. Controversy grabbed center stage when top players from the Golden State Warriors were injured in consecutive games during the Western Conference Finals.

Stephen Curry — the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the current season — developed a “head contusion” after a taking a midair fall while guarding an opponent during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

Two nights later his teammate, Klay Thompson, experienced concussion-like symptoms after an opponent (the same player involved in the Curry mishap) accidentally hit Thompson in head with a knee on Wednesday, May 27.

“Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson took an accidental knee to the head by Houston’s Trevor Ariza late in Game 5. He suffered a cut, from which blood was coming out of, and had to leave the game, but eventually did return. After the Warriors wrapped up their Finals berth, however, Thompson said he wasn’t feeling well and developed concussion-like symptoms,” reported NBA.com.

Immediately after the game, Thompson felt dizzy and threw up -— symptoms of a concussion, according to a report from ESPN. The NBA Finals will resume on Thursday, June 4, featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors.

A concussion is caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. The injury usually alters how the brain functions — for a relatively short period of time in most cases. Except for possible cuts or bruises on the head or face, there may be no other visible signs of a brain injury. The brain can be jarred inside the skull, damaging brain cells. Because of even a small chance of permanent brain problems, it is important to contact a doctor or head for the emergency room for proper diagnostics and treatment if you or someone you know has symptoms of a concussion.

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Moderate Drinking Can Result in Toxic Effects on Elderly Hearts, Study Says

Moderate drinking may not be a good idea for the elderly, a new study has found in a reversal of conventional thinking that a glass of wine or beer with dinner could do no harm.

In a study of 4,466 people between the ages of 71 and 81, researchers concluded that just two or more servings a day of alcohol for men, and one or more for women, was associated with “subtle alterations in cardiac structure and function.” Of those affected, the men experienced enlarged left ventricle walls while the women saw a small reduction in heart function.

Women appeared “more susceptible than men to the cardiotoxic effects of alcohol,” according to the study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation:Cardiovascular Imaging.

“In an elderly population, increasing alcohol intake is associated with subtle alterations in heart structure and function, with women appearing more susceptible than men to the toxic effects of alcohol,” said lead researcher Dr. Alexandra Goncalves, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The study seems to contradict previous research. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, more than 100 prospective studies reported that moderate drinking is associated with a lower risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular issues.

The American Heart Association recommends that if people are going to drink alcohol they should do so “in moderation” because too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and an increased calorie intake which can lead to obesity and other problems. The AHA defines moderate drinking as an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women — with a drink being one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits.

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