Some football players choose to wear guardian caps; Invivyd, head coach Jim Harbaugh partner for COVID-19 awareness; managing the stress of the big game – Morning Medical Update

Do padded helmet covers protect football players?

Guardian caps — padded helmet covers used by some players in the National Football League (NFL) — aim to reduce brain injuries by adding an extra layer of foam to players’ helmets. Although the league reports a 50% reduction in concussions among players wearing them, peer-reviewed studies, including a 2023 Stanford study, found little evidence that they offer significant protection. Experts note that since brain injuries occur due to rapid movement within the skill, added padding is unlikely to prevent long-term damage. Reducing impact forces, rather than modifying helmets, is necessary for better protection.

Repeated concussions and sub-concussive hits can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease linked to memory loss, mood changes and cognitive decline, which one-third of former NFL players believe they have. The Oklahoman has more.

Invivyd partners with NFL head coach Jim Harbaugh to raise COVID-19 awareness

Invivyd has teamed up with Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, to spotlight the ongoing risks of COVID-19 for immunocompromised individuals. Despite widespread vaccination, COVID-19 remains a significant threat, resulting in an American death every nine minutes in 2024.

“As a long-time coach, I want players on the field, fans in the stands and friends and family gathering to enjoy the game. But COVID-19 has and continues to sideline many people,” Harbaugh said. “While COVID-19 may seem like old news to some, many Americans continue to get sick, are hospitalized and are dying from COVID-19, despite many of us having been vaccinated. The extent of damage to our bodies in the long-term is still unknown. The good news is for many there are options other than vaccines…” Harbaugh directs people to Expand Their Options website to learn more.

Big game stress — especially for the losing team

For passionate football fans, the Super Bowl can be an emotional rollercoaster. A 2009 study in the American Journal of Cardiology found that heart-related deaths increased in the two weeks following the Los Angeles Rams’ 1980 Super Bowl loss, largely due to heart attacks and ischemic heart disease. In contrast, deaths from all causes declined after the Raiders won in 1984.

Research continues to show that intense game-day emotions can raise blood pressure and heart rate, increasing cardiovascular risk. Experts recommend managing stress by limiting alcohol intake, choosing healthier snacks, attending a watch party and getting up from the seat for some exercise whenever possible.