Claire Stieg has a passion for horses and has been riding since she was a little girl. But at age 14, Claire's favorite sport turned dangerous when she was thrown from her horse while playing polo.
"I hit the ground so hard that I blacked out and had a seizure," Claire said.
Claire suffered a concussion, and she isn't alone. Recent research shows female athletes get just as many, if not more, concussions as males.
"Typically, concussions occur around some event when you receive a blow to the head," said Dr. Philip Stieg, chief of neurosurgery of the New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
One study found high school girls who play soccer are 68 percent more likely to have a concussion than boys. In sports played by both genders, girls are reporting nearly twice as many concussions, and studies have shown girls take longer to recover from concussion symptoms.
"They can have headaches. They can have sleep disorders, appetite disorders and cognitive disorders, Dr. Stieg said.
Doctors are still trying to figure out why more females are being affected. A reason may be that girl's neck muscles are less developed making them more susceptible to head shaking and secondary concussion.
"Women are more likely to report they've had concussive injuries than men," Dr. Stieg said.
Claire suffered headaches and was extremely tired after her concussion, but after two weeks of rest, she felt better and is now playing college polo at Cornell.
"I wasn't afraid to get back on the horse. I really wanted to get back on and ride," Claire said.
Dr. Stieg said most concussions resolve themselves within seven days, but if you are still having symptoms like headaches or trouble sleeping, you should see a doctor immediately.
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