1. Chapter 3
Medical Conditions

2. Medical Conditions Affecting Athletes
Diabetes Mellitus
Hypoglycemia and Insulin Shock
Asthma
Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA)
Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy)
Appendicitis
Insect Stings and Bites
Genetic Heart Conditions
Sickle-Cell Anemia
Common Viruses

3. Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus
Urinating often
Feeling very thirsty
Itchy dry skin
Feeling very hungry
Extreme fatigue
Blurry vision
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
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.

7. Symptoms of Hypoglycemia and Insulin Shock
Hunger
Racing heartbeat
Sweating
Shaking
Inability to think clearly
Headache
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.

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)
Grand mal seizure
Uncontrollable shaking
Falling to the ground
Loss of consciousness
Defecation/urination
Biting the tongue
Other injury due to shaking/spasms
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 .
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, or 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:
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.