Slaps are not considered a blow, but rather an insult. In European culture, it is used to express contempt and lack of respect for the person being slapped. A few years ago, a sport called “slap fighting” emerged. It is perceived as a joke and has gained wide popularity in the last couple of years. However, a group of neurologists have concluded that slaps can have serious and long-term health consequences, especially when it comes to the aforementioned competitions.
A slap can have serious negative consequences for health. Photo source: rg.ru
Contents
- 1 What is a “slap fight”
- 2 A slap can cause serious traumatic brain injury
- 3 Can ordinary slaps cause harm
- 4 What to do if you get a concussion
What is a “slap fight”
A “slap fight” is more of a show than a sport. The idea is that two people stand opposite each other and take turns slapping each other with great force. The participants are not allowed to dodge the blows or use any headgear or other protective equipment.
While analyzing footage from the show, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found several signs of concussion in participants. These signs include a blank stare, slowness in standing up, problems with coordination, vomiting, amnesia, or convulsions from the impact. Even just one of these signs could indicate a concussion.
It should be noted that doctors use the same principles to determine whether athletes have a concussion during other competitions, such as American football. But this is not a very accurate assessment, since in a quarter of cases, concussion has no visible signs at all.
During a “slap fight”, participants slap each other with all their might. Photo source: wikimedia.org
Let us recall that concussions have a number of serious negative health consequences, such as vegetative-vascular dystonia, post-traumatic epilepsy, memory impairment, depression, increased risk of stroke, development of senile dementia, and much more. Some studies have even shown that concussions increase the risk of suicide.
In addition, it should be taken into account that concussions can pose a threat in the short term. Therefore, a person who has been injured should be under observation for 24 hours.
Slapping Can Cause Serious Head Injury
Some other experts have also found that slaps can have serious consequences. For example, neuroscientist Christopher Nowinski noticed that one participant showed clear signs of head injury. According to him, after being slapped, the participant's body took a “fencing pose,” in which his hands were in an unnatural position.
According to doctors, almost 30% of strong slaps lead to a concussion. Photo source: pakutaso.com
Doctors use this reflex to determine the severity of a traumatic brain injury. According to Christopher Nowinski, a person may never be the same after such a blow.
Can ordinary slaps cause harm?
Doctors analyzed 333 slaps and found signs of concussion after 97 of them. That is, almost 30 percent of slaps lead to concussion. As a result, out of 56 participants in the show, 44 people had at least one sign of concussion. This means that negative consequences from slaps were experienced by more than three quarters of the participants in the show. The authors of the study report this in the journal JAMA Surgery.
In this case, we are talking about competitions, but what about ordinary, everyday slaps? From all of the above, we can conclude that any strong slap can cause a concussion. Of course, if it is given to the offender emotionally, then most likely it is not as strong as during a “slap fight”, when the participants are preparing to deliver a powerful blow with the palm.
A slap can cause symptoms of severe traumatic brain injury. Photo source: depositphotos.com
However, it should be taken into account that the person who receives the slap does not prepare for the blow, like the participant in the show. For example, he may not tense his neck muscles in advance. As a result, even a less severe blow, theoretically, can cause a concussion.
What to do in case of a concussion
If you happen to have a concussion, regardless of the cause, you should seek medical help immediately. Doctors assess the severity of the injury and take further measures accordingly.
In case of a concussion, it is necessary to seek medical attention immediately. Photo source: depositphotos.com
After a concussion is diagnosed, an adult or child may need to be hospitalized overnight for observation. Regardless of whether the person is hospitalized or not, any activities that require concentration should be limited for the first 48 hours. Such activities include video games, watching TV, reading, etc. It is also not recommended to exercise.
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After a period of rest, daily activities should be gradually increased. However, they should not cause concussion symptoms. Regular medical supervision is necessary. In addition, even after a full recovery, a person who has received a traumatic brain injury needs to be more attentive to their health and undergo a medical examination more often.