Clover Chapter 3: Medical Conditions Affecting Athletes PDF

1 Chapter 3 Medical Conditions 2 Medical Conditions Affecting Athletes 1 Diabetes Mellitus Hypoglycemia and Insulin Shock Asthma Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA) Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy) 2 Appendicitis Insect Stings and B...

1 Chapter 3 Medical Conditions 2 Medical Conditions Affecting Athletes 1 Diabetes Mellitus Hypoglycemia and Insulin Shock Asthma Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA) Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy) 2 Appendicitis Insect Stings and Bites Genetic Heart Conditions Sickle-Cell Anemia Common Viruses 3 Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus 1 Urinating often Feeling very thirsty Itchy dry skin Feeling very hungry Extreme fatigue Blurry vision Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal 2 Weight loss—even though you are eating more (type 1) Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2) More infections than usual 4 Immediate Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes requires a doctor’s care. Often symptoms can be controlled through diet. Sometimes an injection of insulin is needed to prevent a coma. – If the athlete goes into a coma, treat the athlete for shock, contact EMS, and monitor vital signs. 5 Immediate Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Follow physician instructions. If athlete has not been diagnosed with diabetes but displays any of the previously listed symptoms, instruct athlete to consume a small amount of sugar and to consult a physician for diagnosis and treatment. 6 Immediate Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus If symptoms in undiagnosed athlete do not resolve within 10 minutes of consuming sugar, or if the symptoms become worse, contact EMS. 1 7 Symptoms of Hypoglycemia and Insulin Shock 1 Hunger Racing heartbeat Sweating Shaking Inability to think clearly Headache 2 Physical weakness Loss of motor coordination Irritability Drowsiness that can lead to anxiety 8 Immediate Treatment of Hypoglycemia and Shock Hypoglycemic athletes should consume sugar at the onset of symptoms. – Ensure food consumed contains true sugar Candy or orange juice should be readily available in the event a reaction occurs Contact EMS if symptoms do not resolve within 10 minutes of consuming sugar or if symptoms become worse. – 9 Symptoms of Asthma Include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, and coughing Symptoms can cause the patient to hyperventilate and become dizzy. Attacks may result from an allergic reaction to a plant, an animal, a food, or smoggy conditions. – Attacks are potentially life-threatening. 10 Immediate Treatment of Asthma If athlete has prescribed medication, he or she should use it. Have athlete sit down with arms elevated. Have athlete breathe through the nose. Contact EMS. Encourage athlete to use inhaler. 11 Immediate Treatment of Asthma Athlete should attempt to drink water, perform controlled breathing, and relax. If something in the area caused the attack, remove the item or the athlete. 12 Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA) Attack can be caused by exercise and triggered in dry, cold air. – Other factors include smog, smoke, high pollen counts, poor physical condition, intensity of exercise, respiratory infection such as a cold, and chemicals such as chlorine from a swimming pool. 2 13 Symptoms and Treatment of Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA) Symptoms include wheezing or high pitched noise when breathing, chest pain, chest tightness, fatigue during exercise, dry cough, or stomach cramps post exercise Treatment is the same as with asthma. 14 Symptoms of Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy) 1 Grand mal seizure – Uncontrollable shaking – Falling to the ground – Loss of consciousness – Defecation/urination – Biting the tongue – Other injury due to shaking/spasms – 2 Petit mail seizure – Person rarely falls – Muscular contractions less severe – Sudden stopping of activity for several seconds to a few minutes – Possible loss of consciousness 15 Symptoms of Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy) Whether or not consciousness is lost, the patient may have no memory of the seizure after it is over. Partial, or focal, seizures are also possible. – In these seizures, only a portion of the body is affected and loss of consciousness may or may not occur. 16 Immediate Treatment of Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy) Ensure the victim does not incur harm. – Clear the area around the person who is having the seizure so the person cannot get hurt or hurt anyone else. Loosen any restricting clothing. Make sure the victim’s airway remains open. Contact EMS. 17 Symptoms of Appendicitis Pain in the lower right quadrant of abdomen Nausea Vomiting Fever Either diarrhea or constipation – Symptoms appear suddenly, usually over a period of 2-3 hours. 18 Immediate Treatment of Appendicitis Athlete will usually find some relief by bringing the knees to the chest The sudden onset of abdominal pain should always be treated with great caution. 3  – If the appendix bursts, the infection will spread into the abdominal cavity. – This can be life-threatening. 19 Immediate Treatment of Appendicitis Contact EMS. Surgery is often required. 20 Symptoms of Insect Stings and Bites Nausea Difficulty breathing Swelling Hives Feeling of faintness or dizziness Swollen tongue 21 Immediate Treatment of Insect Stings and Bites Remove the stinger with the use of tweezers or by scraping gently across the skin with a fingernail or credit card. Wash the area with soap and water. Apply ice to decrease the swelling. If the person has a reaction or has had one before, contact EMS. 22 Immediate Treatment of Insect Stings and Bites If symptoms increase, such as: – difficulty breathing or wheezing – tightness in the throat or feeling the airway is closing – anxiety or dizziness – loss of consciousness Inject epinephrine immediately 23 Symptoms of Genetic Heart Conditions Chest pain Heart palpitations Shortness of breath Sweating Dizziness and/or unusual fatigue during or after exercise 24 Immediate Treatment of Cardiac Arrest Regardless of the cause or underlying condition of the heart, cardiac arrest is always treated the same way. – Contact EMS. – Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). – This is a life-threatening emergency. 25 Symptoms of Sickle-Cell Anemia Sickle-cell crisis (collapse) can be caused by altitude, intense exercise, heat, high fever, dehydration, and asthma. Symptoms include: 4  – Muscle pain, cramping, abnormal weakness, undue fatigue, or shortness of breath 26 Immediate Treatment of Sickle-Cell Crisis If the athlete collapses, treat as a medical emergency and call 911. Calm and cool the athlete. 27 Symptoms of Common Viruses Respiratory symptoms – Runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, cough, fatigue Gastrointestinal symptoms – Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, fever, and chills Dehydration – A possibility when vomiting, diarrhea, or fever is present 28 Immediate Treatment of Common Viruses Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Primary means of relief are rest, OTC cold and flu remedies, and time. – Most of these viruses last no more than a few days. – If the athlete has severe diarrhea, refer to a physician. 5