The blows to the head affect many hormones controlled by the pituitary gland, especially growth hormone.Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Coordinator and Endocrinology Specialist Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur warned families who direct their children to such sports, stating that as the exposure to the impact increases, the risk of problems increases…

Regular work of the pituitary gland affects many systems, from reproductive functions to the body's water and salt balance, from maintaining vascular integrity to growth and development. Therefore, the preservation of this small, influential organ is extremely important. Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Coordinator, Endocrinology Specialist Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur pointed out that any blow to the head from a sports match to a traffic accident affects the pituitary gland, thus the hormonal system. Due to damage to the pituitary gland, due to pituitary insufficiency, insufficiency of cortisol hormone, growth hormone, and other related hormones and related problems arise.

Underlining that frequent and repetitive blows such as boxing and kickboxing can cause serious damage to the pituitary gland, Prof. Dr. Keleştemur: “A boxer takes an average of 4000-4500 punches to the head during his sporting life.”

It Is The First That Athlete Had a Strike-Related Hormonal Disorder

Stating that they detected hormonal abnormalities in people who do fight sports, Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur, “In fact, it has been known for a long time that head traumas lead to a hormonal disorder. With our research, we have revealed the hormonal disorders that occur in athletes for the first time. Our research has been published in prestigious scientific journals around the world. A group of scientists in the United States did similar work on American football players and found similar results.”

The Use of Helmets in Martial Sports is Mandatory in Turkey

Reminding that cerebral hemorrhage is also common, especially in those who do fight sports in the USA, Prof. Dr. Keleştemur: “Turkey is a lucky country in this regard. Because those who do fight sports have to wear helmets. In the US and some European countries, helmets are not used when doing these sports. Therefore, the risk of trauma-related damage is higher.”

In recent years, the necessity of helmets in amateur boxing and kickboxing has been introduced, and these sports have been tried to be made less risky in terms of health by increasing the volume of gloves. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur underlined that those who do "combat sports" and families who direct their children to this sport should definitely take precautions for protection purposes.  The helmet is useful but not completely protective in terms of brain and pituitary damage.

As Trauma Exposure Increases, Risk Rises

The severity of the impact and the duration of exposure is effective in the emergence of hormone deficiency. In other words, hormone deficiency increases in direct proportion to the severity of the blow. Prof. Dr. Keleştemur: It is not easy to say that this type of sport must be banned. However, by taking serious precautions, permanent damage and hormonal disorders can be reduced. We know that those who do not wear helmets are 10 to 30 percent more likely to be hormone deficient than those who do.” Even this simple precaution works. Since there is a need to wear a helmet in our country, the negative effects are less common.”

Traffic Accidents Cause Hormone Disorder

Reminding that traffic accidents, which are one of the biggest problems of our country, also cause brain traumas, Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur pointed out that approximately 20-30 percent of those who had a head injury as a result of a traffic accident had growth hormone deficiency and related problems.

Hormone Deficiency Needs To Be Compensated

Pointing out that the lack of growth hormone in adults has become extremely important in recent years, Prof. Dr. Keleştemur continued his words as follows:

“An increase in fat mass can lead to a decrease in muscle mass, causing a change in body composition.  Physically, the person feels tired and unhappy. Memory problems arise. There are problems with discernment and appetite. Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular problems are more common. Because after the treatment, the person's quality of life improves visibly. Therefore, it is extremely important to detect growth hormone deficiency. Cortisol hormone deficiency can have much more serious consequences. There may be a decrease in blood pressure and a decrease in sugar. If the cortisol hormone is deficient, it must be compensated.

One of the important causes of short stature is the lack of growth hormone due to head traumas in childhood. Parents Must Protect Their Children From Head Trauma!

Athletes Must Be Screened

Pointing out that it is possible to eliminate the health problems due to hormone deficiency by treating those in need of treatment among retired athletes who develop pituitary insufficiency, Prof. Dr. Keleştemur stated that pituitary hormone deficiency may also develop in active young athletes who have been hit severely or who do not use helmets, albeit rarely.

Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur also added the following: “In terms of athlete performance and health, it would be beneficial to prevent pituitary insufficiency and treat pituitary insufficiency even if it has developed. To minimize the risk of pituitary failure due to head trauma, athletes engaged in combat sports should always wear a helmet, including training, and avoid getting hit in the head. In addition, according to the results of our studies, it would be beneficial to screen boxers or kickboxers for pituitary failure by an endocrinologist, even if they are retired. ”

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