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DALLAS, Aug. 31 (UPI) — Parents should take time to review the latest guidelines about concussions before their children head for the practice fields, a U.S. physician says.

Dr. Robert Dimeff, director of family sports medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, advises parents to look over the athletic equipment to be used and make sure it fits properly, particularly the helmet.

Make sure your child-athlete knows how to wear it properly and does so in practice, Dimeff says.

“Parents, coaches and student athletes should know what symptoms to pay attention to,” Dimeff says in a statement. “The signs and symptoms can come immediately after the impact or even days later.”

In addition, athletes need to let a parent, coach or other adult know if they are feeling signs such as headache or “pressure” in their head, nausea or vomiting, balance problems or dizziness, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise, drowsiness or fatigue and concentration problems or confusion, Dimeff advises.

Parents should also note mood or behavioral changes, including athletes appearing stunned, dazed or confused about homework, particularly work that was not difficult before an injury, Dimeff says.

“Those symptoms justify a doctor’s visit so a concussion isn’t overlooked,” Dimeff adds.

The state Department of Public Health on Tuesday cautioned market owners and consumers about possible health effects associated with the use of Jambrulin and some other ayurvedic medicinal products sold in Indian or Asian markets.

Jambrulin’s packaging states that the product can be used to activate the pancreas. Ayurvedic medicinal products are used in traditional Indian healing practices and are often imported from India, the health department said in a news release. Heavy metals may be introduced into ayurvedic products either intentionally as part of the formulation intended to be therapeutic, or accidentally as part of the manufacturing process, the release said.

The health department’s Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance Program and Public Health Laboratory have investigated several cases of lead poisoning from the use of Jambrulin. this product was found to contain approximately 3.5 percent lead, the department said. this finding is consistent with tests of many other supplements and ayurvedic medicinal products sold in Indian and Asian markets nationwide, according to the health department.

Infants, children and pregnant women are the most susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can include abdominal pain, anemia, changes in blood pressure, negative reproductive effects, weakness, concentration problems, weight loss, insomnia, dizziness, kidney and brain damage or possibly death. The department advised anyone experiencing health effects that may be the result of the use of Jambrulin or other ayurvedic products to seek the help of a doctor.

a list of ayurvedics, herbal remedies and other medicinal supplements known to contain dangerous levels of contaminants including heavy metals has been developed by the new York City Department of Health and can be accessed on the Connecticut health department website at: ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environmental_health/lead/pdf/lead-herbalmed_NY.pdf