Association Between Concussion Burden During Professional American-Style Football and Postcareer Hypertension
Rachel Grashow, Can Ozan Tan, Saef Izzy, Herman A. Taylor, Marc G. Weisskopf, Meagan M. Wasfy, Alicia J. Whittington, Frank E. Speizer, Ross Zafonte, Aaron L. Baggish
Abstract
Previous work has demonstrated an association between American-style football (ASF) and the development of hypertension among collegiate athletes.1 In addition, hypertension prevalence has been shown to be higher among active professional ASF athletes compared with similarly aged members of the general population.2 Whereas causal factors including deliberate weight gain, repetitive isometric strength training, sleep apnea, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use have been suggested, definitive mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Recent studies in general populations have shown associations between brain injury and subsequent hypertension.3 Given that ASF players are at particular risk for recurrent head injury, the relationship between concussion history and later life hypertension deserves focused exploration.