Conditions and Conditions and IllnessesIllnesses

AsthmaAsthma

► Condition that causes decreased breathing Condition that causes decreased breathing due to the narrowing of air passages due to the narrowing of air passages (bronchial tubes)(bronchial tubes)

► Caused by “triggers” that include allergies, Caused by “triggers” that include allergies, emotional stress, exercise or a body emotional stress, exercise or a body chemistry responsechemistry response

► Athlete will cough but will usually not have Athlete will cough but will usually not have phlegmphlegm

► Common signs of asthma attack are Common signs of asthma attack are shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezingshortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing

Asthma ContinuedAsthma Continued

►Athlete will usually have an inhaler for Athlete will usually have an inhaler for use during attacks, they should be use during attacks, they should be allowed to use it allowed to use it

►Athlete needs to try and relax and Athlete needs to try and relax and stabilize their breathing patternstabilize their breathing pattern

►Do not allow an athlete to use another Do not allow an athlete to use another athlete’s inhalerathlete’s inhaler

AppendicitisAppendicitis

►Athlete will feel pain in lower right Athlete will feel pain in lower right quadrantquadrant

►Common signs and symptoms are diarrhea Common signs and symptoms are diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting, and a or constipation, nausea, vomiting, and a temperature increase all within a couple of temperature increase all within a couple of hours, and rebound tendernesshours, and rebound tenderness

►Bringing knees to chest usually relieves Bringing knees to chest usually relieves symptomssymptoms

►Should be sent to doctor or ERShould be sent to doctor or ER

GastroenteritisGastroenteritis► Also known as food poisoningAlso known as food poisoning► Increase in cases recently because of E. coliIncrease in cases recently because of E. coli► Prevention includes careful food handling and Prevention includes careful food handling and

preparation, washing hands and utensils preparation, washing hands and utensils frequently, cooking foods thoroughly, frequently, cooking foods thoroughly, bleaching countertops, dishrags, and cutting bleaching countertops, dishrags, and cutting surfacessurfaces

► Athlete will complain of abdominal pain, Athlete will complain of abdominal pain, tiredness, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and tiredness, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and possibly high temperaturepossibly high temperature

► Treatment includes plenty of fluids and restTreatment includes plenty of fluids and rest► Refer to a doctor if symptoms do not improveRefer to a doctor if symptoms do not improve

IndigestionIndigestion

►Occurs when you eat a food that the Occurs when you eat a food that the body has a hard time digestingbody has a hard time digesting

►Stomach may produce excessive acids Stomach may produce excessive acids to break food down causing heartburnto break food down causing heartburn

►Athlete will burp, feel nauseated and Athlete will burp, feel nauseated and may vomitmay vomit

►Serious cases should be referred to Serious cases should be referred to doctordoctor

DiabetesDiabetes

►Occurs when pancreas does not secrete Occurs when pancreas does not secrete insulin effectively or when the body is insulin effectively or when the body is resistant to insulinresistant to insulin

►After you eat, your blood sugar rises After you eat, your blood sugar rises and the pancreas secretes insulin to and the pancreas secretes insulin to bring it back downbring it back down

► If the blood sugar level gets too high If the blood sugar level gets too high you experience you experience hyperglycemiahyperglycemia, if it , if it gets too low you experience gets too low you experience hypoglycemiahypoglycemia

DiabetesDiabetes

► If athlete uses insulin and then forgets If athlete uses insulin and then forgets to eat or doesn’t eat enough, the to eat or doesn’t eat enough, the blood sugar level will fall and possibly blood sugar level will fall and possibly cause them to pass outcause them to pass out

►Athletes can help control blood sugar Athletes can help control blood sugar levels by eating foods that take time levels by eating foods that take time to digest such as meats and to digest such as meats and vegetables, and by avoiding sugary vegetables, and by avoiding sugary foodsfoods

Diabetic ComaDiabetic Coma► Can occur when there is not enough insulin to Can occur when there is not enough insulin to

control the amount of sugar in the bloodcontrol the amount of sugar in the blood► Usually comes on gradually with signs of Usually comes on gradually with signs of

vomiting and high temperaturevomiting and high temperature► Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and

confusionconfusion►When a coma is approaching athlete will have When a coma is approaching athlete will have

labored breathing, sweet smelling breath, and labored breathing, sweet smelling breath, and low BPlow BP

►May be prevented by helping athlete to May be prevented by helping athlete to administer insulinadminister insulin

► If they become unconscious, call 911If they become unconscious, call 911

Insulin ShockInsulin Shock► Usually occurs in insulin dependent athletes who Usually occurs in insulin dependent athletes who

may forget to eatmay forget to eat► The lack of food allows insulin to lower blood The lack of food allows insulin to lower blood

sugar that was never highsugar that was never high► Athlete will feel lightheaded and weak, and have Athlete will feel lightheaded and weak, and have

ashen skin tone and a rapid pulse, they will ashen skin tone and a rapid pulse, they will appear to be intoxicatedappear to be intoxicated

►Give athlete juice or candy (if they’re conscious), Give athlete juice or candy (if they’re conscious), and then they should consume a mealand then they should consume a meal

► If unconscious, administer liquid glucose, call If unconscious, administer liquid glucose, call 911911

HypertensionHypertension

►Defined as BP above normal levels, Defined as BP above normal levels, generally 140 or higher systolic, and generally 140 or higher systolic, and 90 or higher diastolic at rest90 or higher diastolic at rest

►Caused by poor diet, stress, sedentary Caused by poor diet, stress, sedentary lifestyle, or severe vascular damagelifestyle, or severe vascular damage

►Athlete may report frequent Athlete may report frequent headachesheadaches

►Refer to doctor for evaluationRefer to doctor for evaluation

HypotensionHypotension

►Defined as abnormally low BPDefined as abnormally low BP►May be caused by medication or long May be caused by medication or long

term complete restterm complete rest► Is also a product of shockIs also a product of shock►You must recognize cause of You must recognize cause of

hypotension in order to treat ithypotension in order to treat it

AnemiaAnemia

►Lack of red blood cells to provide Lack of red blood cells to provide oxygen to tissuesoxygen to tissues

►Occurs from loss of blood, lack of iron, Occurs from loss of blood, lack of iron, improper functioning of cells, improper functioning of cells, medication, or malfunction in the medication, or malfunction in the construction of cellsconstruction of cells

►Can be caused by surgery, fixed with Can be caused by surgery, fixed with transfusionstransfusions

Iron Deficiency AnemiaIron Deficiency Anemia

►Can be caused by lack of iron rich foods Can be caused by lack of iron rich foods or their body may need a higher level of or their body may need a higher level of ironiron

►Athlete will have pale skin, fatigue, Athlete will have pale skin, fatigue, dizziness, decreased capillary refill, and dizziness, decreased capillary refill, and tirednesstiredness

►Best way to identify is with a blood testBest way to identify is with a blood test►Can be resolved by eating high iron Can be resolved by eating high iron

foods such as liver and beeffoods such as liver and beef

Sickle-Cell AnemiaSickle-Cell Anemia► This is a chronic inherited diseaseThis is a chronic inherited disease► Usually thought of only in African-Americans, however, it’s Usually thought of only in African-Americans, however, it’s

found in other races as wellfound in other races as well► Red blood cells are sickle shaped and cling to sides of vessels Red blood cells are sickle shaped and cling to sides of vessels

causing a back up, and they can not carry as much Ocausing a back up, and they can not carry as much O22

► Athletes with this condition will have trouble at high altitudesAthletes with this condition will have trouble at high altitudes► If they are in a crisis, they will have blue skin tone, feel If they are in a crisis, they will have blue skin tone, feel

nauseated and weak, and have abdominal painnauseated and weak, and have abdominal pain► Can be treated with high-flow oxygenCan be treated with high-flow oxygen► Transport to ER if they are having difficulty breathing or going Transport to ER if they are having difficulty breathing or going

into shockinto shock► To prevent an episode you should take in plenty of fluids, To prevent an episode you should take in plenty of fluids,

warm up well, and avoid short bursts of activitywarm up well, and avoid short bursts of activity

HemophiliaHemophilia

►Blood disorder that delays clottingBlood disorder that delays clotting► It is sex-linked and inherited, occurs It is sex-linked and inherited, occurs

mainly in femalesmainly in females►Athlete may bleed long enough to Athlete may bleed long enough to

need a transfusionneed a transfusion►Cannot be cured, but can be managed Cannot be cured, but can be managed

Neurological ConditionsNeurological Conditions

►Epilepsy-Epilepsy- general term given to general term given to disorders marked by disturbed disorders marked by disturbed electrical rhythms of the CNSelectrical rhythms of the CNS

►Cause can be chemical, neurological Cause can be chemical, neurological (brain defect), infection, or trauma(brain defect), infection, or trauma

►A common sign of epilepsy is a A common sign of epilepsy is a grand grand mal seizuremal seizure Shaking, drool, loss of bladder control, Shaking, drool, loss of bladder control,

unconsciousnessunconsciousness

Neurological ConditionsNeurological Conditions► Sometimes an athlete will know they are going Sometimes an athlete will know they are going

to have a seizure and they will hear a certain to have a seizure and they will hear a certain sound or see an aurasound or see an aura

►Move them to a safe area ASAPMove them to a safe area ASAP► Care for grand mal seizure includes moving Care for grand mal seizure includes moving

objects away from them, loosening clothing, objects away from them, loosening clothing, and trying to protect headand trying to protect head

► Check for breathing if they “swallow” their Check for breathing if they “swallow” their tonguetongue

► You must allow it to end on its ownYou must allow it to end on its own► Athlete with epilepsy should be able to Athlete with epilepsy should be able to

participate in athletics as long as they are on participate in athletics as long as they are on medicationmedication