Brain Injury Awareness Month

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month and officially time to learn more about brain injuries and eliminate the stigma around them.

Brain Injuries 101: Types & Causes

What is a Brain Injury?

A brain injury is when your brain experiences damage. The most commonly known brain injuries are concussions but, all brain injuries can generally be separated into two types, traumatic and non-traumatic.

Traumatic brain injuries are defined by The Brain Injury Association of America as “an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force.” They then are classified as closed or open, depending on if the brain was penetrated (open) or not (closed). As you can see, falls are the first cause on this list, because oftentimes, falls result in a hit to the head and can cause concussions.

Brain injuries may also be classified as mild, moderate, or severe to indicate the initial severity of the injury. Nontraumatic brain injuries are caused by damage to the brain by internal factors. These factors are listed below.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CAUSES

• Falls
• Assaults
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Sports/Recreation Injuries
• Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
• Gunshot Wounds
• Workplace Injuries
• Child Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Military Actions (Blast Injury)

NON-TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CAUSES

• Stroke (Hemorrhage, Blood Clot)
• Infectious Disease
• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• Seizure
• Electric Shock
• Tumors
• Metabolic Disorders
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Sports/Recreation Injuries
• Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
• Gunshot Wounds
• Workplace Injuries
• Child Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Military Actions (Blast Injury)
• Neurotoxic Poisoning (Carbon Monoxide, Lead Exposure)
• Lack of Oxygen (Drowning, Choking, Hypoxic/Anoxic Injury)
• Drug Overdose

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Learn more about supporting those with brain injuries, prevention, and more. Visit www.biausa.org.

H E A D S: A way to recognize and get treatment for a brain injury

Concussions or mild TBIs vary in severability. Some may not require specific treatment other than rest. That doesn’t mean it’s not extremely important to follow your healthcare providerʼs instructions for complete rest and a slow return to normal activities.

Unfortunately, if you return to your normal activities too soon and start experiencing TBI symptoms, you will only prolong the healing process. Tasks like working at your computer and extreme concentration can inflame TBI symptoms. If you have a concussion you might need to reduce these kinds of activities or take frequent breaks to let the brain rest.

Always remember this acronym to gauge the severity of the TBI and seek treatment:

• H – headaches or vomiting
• E – ears ringing
• A – amnesia, altered consciousness, or loss of consciousness
• D – double vision and/or dizziness
• S – something is wrong, or not quite right

Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Treatments for concussions vary and are sometimes needed only briefly after the injury. However, in some cases, treatment may be necessary throughout a personʼs life or on an ongoing basis. Your doctor may prescribe an array of cognitive, physical, and psychological therapies to help heal from your TBI.

Rehabilitation from a TBI can include:

• Physical therapy to increase strength, balance, flexibility, energy levels, and overall physical strength
• Occupational therapy with a focus on performing daily tasks, such as getting dressed, cooking, and bathing
  Speech therapy to improve the ability to form words, speak aloud, and use other communication skills
• Psychological counseling to learn coping skills, work on interpersonal relationships, and improve general emotional well-being; can include medication and other ways to address chemical imbalances that may result from TBI
• Vocational counseling to help a patient return to work and community living by finding appropriate work opportunities and ways to deal with workplace challenges
• Cognitive therapy to improve memory, attention, perception, learning, planning, and judgment

Concussions and other TBIs are more common than you think! If you or someone you know is suffering from any HEADS symptoms and has recently hit their head, please contact your doctor as soon as possible.