Maybe soccer players need more than shin pads. Young athletes can take some major blows and bruises during practice and games. And the number of injuries increase as players get older.

Scoring a goal by heading the ball sure looks cool on TV. Heading in soccer is not known to cause any major injuries either. Why the concern then?

Head injuries are very common in childhood, accounting for 600,000 visits to the emergency room each year in the United States. Clinical examination alone may not be able to detect internal damage.

Trying to remain mentally well is one of the most serious challenges facing military servicemen and women who are on the battlefront and veterans at home.

Veterans can identify the headaches, loss of consciousness and dizziness that characterize a mild brain injury. But a number of other symptoms unrelated to the injury incorrectly get caught up in the mix.

One major hit to the head is all it takes. Trouble focusing, headaches, lightheadedness and other symptoms can stick around with patients who have a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).

Head injuries can come with an unpredictable recovery process. Coping with the physical and mental stress of a traumatic brain injury may lead to short-term substance abuse.

About 10 million people experience a mild traumatic brain injury across the world each year. Understanding risk factors for these injuries may help with prevention.

Helmets and mouth guards do a lot to protect the head from injury. How well the equipment protects against concussion is another story.

Living through a brain bleed may provide a second chance to quit smoking. Kicking the habit and taking care of blood pressure and cholesterol can help keep these patients alive.