Guest Post by Andrew Dahl of NOXBOX
Concussions are a mild to moderate 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. Delayed concussion symptoms can occur, along with symptoms that 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 provide the right treatment to help a person recover faster, and help prevent multiple concussions.
Delayed concussion symptoms refer to the symptoms of a concussion that may not appear immediately after the injury but instead appear hours or days later. These symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty sleeping. It’s important to monitor for delayed symptoms, especially in cases of head trauma, as a prompt medical evaluation and treatment can help prevent further complications.
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 delayed concussion symptoms and 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. If you have delayed concussion symptoms, you may not even know that you had the first concussion before the second occurs, and the result can be devastating.
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, or delayed concussion symptoms, 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, point-of-need rapid concussion test, that aims to provide actionable results in less than five minutes. NOXBOX is designed initially to function as a triage tool, complementing other EMT and ER procedures and protocols for a suspected concussion. With NOXBOX, medical professionals may be able to more 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 smart device. 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.
Concussions are a serious issue in sports, with thousands of athletes suffering from the effects of head injuries every year. Fortunately, there are ways to detect concussion-related brain injury in athletes, and one of the most promising is a blood test. Blood tests can measure levels of certain proteins and biomarkers that indicate brain injury and have been found to be a reliable indicator of concussion. However, diagnosing concussions with a simple blood test has one major limitation: the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). The BBB is a natural defense mechanism in the body that prevents harmful toxins and pathogens from entering the brain. The BBB is also responsible for blocking most drugs and biomarkers from entering the brain.
This means that, unless a blood-based test can detect a biomarker that is found in both the blood and the brain, it may not be an effective way of detecting brain injury. Fortunately, scientists have made considerable progress in finding biomarkers that can be detected in both the blood and the brain, and this could lead to more reliable concussion blood tests.
NOXBOX scientists are able to develop rapid, highly accurate diagnostic tests to measure those biomarkers, conduct clinical validation and bring a reliable concussion blood test to market.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not represent the views and opinions of RedCrow or its affiliates. The blog does not imply a recommendation or endorsement by Redcrow. RedCrow does not verify or establish the truth of the information obtained in the blog. These materials may not be relied upon for making any investment decision. Nothing in the blog is to be construed as a securities offering.
