The Brain Injury Association of America dedicates March to spreading awareness. During the campaign, it draws attention to the seriousness of traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. It touches on the needs of victims and their families following incidences of brain injuries.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
TBIs can occur from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, and they can affect anyone at any time. TBIs disturb the overall functioning of the brain and, depending on the severity, could permanently damage the makeup of brain cells. Brain injuries range from mild to severe. Mild TBIs result in a brief change in mental status, while a severe injury can result in an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss. Some leading causes are falling, being struck by an object, car crashes, and intentional self-harm. There are specific signs and symptoms to look for.
Signs and symptoms of concussions
A common result of a TBI is a concussion. There are four categories of concussion symptoms: thinking/remembering, physical, emotional/mood, and sleep. Specific symptoms include difficulty remembering new information, dizziness, irritability, and sleeping more than usual. Symptoms of a concussion are not very distinct and can be overlooked. It is important to keep an eye on your symptoms, even months after an injury, because they can be delayed.
If you experience a headache that gets worse and does not go away, numbness or decreased coordination, repeated vomiting or nausea, or slurred speech, you need to seek medical attention immediately. These symptoms can be a result of a blood clot formed in the skull, which can lead to permanent damage to the brain.
Prevention tips
Prevention is key to getting ahead of a concussion. For children, prevention can begin with buckling them in a safe booster seat, making sure they wear a helmet during sports and when riding a bike, and using safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases.
For adults, it is recommended to wear a helmet for sports like bicycling, to take care when doing household chores on ladders or roofs, and to wear seat belts when driving or traveling by car.
For senior citizens, TBIs can be prevented by clearing tripping hazards, using nonslip bathmats, and installing handrails on both sides of staircases. These prevention methods seem simple but can be easily overlooked, so make sure to create good habits when it comes to protecting your head.