*Brain Injury Awareness*
This page of my website is dedicated to all the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors and their families as well as to people that would like to learn about TBI's. Following is information on TBI's as well as some of the symptoms that one may experience if they have suffered a brain injury (this information was obtained from the biausa website (http://www.biausa.org/index.htm) for additional information or to find state information please visit that site:
1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Injury Prevention, the leading causes of TBI are:
• Falls (35.2%)
• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (17.3%)
• Struck by/against events (16.5%)
• Assaults (10%)
A Healthy Brain
To understand what happens when the brain is injured, it is important to realize what a healthy brain is made of and what it does. The brain is enclosed inside the skull. The skull acts as a protective covering for the soft brain. The brain is made of neurons (nerve cells). The neurons form tracts that route throughout the brain. These nerve tracts carry messages to various parts of the brain. The brain uses these messages to perform functions. The functions include our coordinating our body’s systems, such as breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and metabolism; thought processing; body movements; personality; behavior; and the senses, such as vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Each part of the brain serves a specific function and links with other parts of the brain to form more complex functions. All parts of the brain need to be working well in order for the brain to work well. Even "minor" or "mild" injuries to the brain can significantly disrupt the brain's ability to function.
An Injured Brain
When a brain injury occurs, the functions of the neurons, nerve tracts, or sections of the brain can be affected. If the neurons and nerve tracts are affected, they can be unable or have difficulty carrying the messages that tell the brain what to do. This can change the way a person thinks, acts, feels, and moves the body. Brain injury can also change the complex internal functions of the body, such as regulating body temperature; blood pressure; bowel and bladder control. These changes can be temporary or permanent. They may cause impairment or a complete inability to perform a function.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (GCS of 13-15)
Some symptoms of mild TBI include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbance
- Irritability
- Sensitivity to noise or light
- Balance problems
- Decreased concentration and attention span
- Decreased speed of thinking
- Memory problems
- Nausea
- Depression and anxiety
- Emotional mood swings
This information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or examination. A person with a suspected brain injury should contact a physician immediately, go to the emergency room, or call 911 in the case of an emergency. Symptoms of mild TBI can be temporary. The majority of people with mild TBI recover, though the timetable for recovery can vary significantly from person to person.
Moderate Brain Injury (GCS of 8-12)
A moderate TBI occurs when there is a loss of consciousness that lasts from a few minutes to a few hours, when confusion lasts from days to weeks, or when physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral impairments last for months or are permanent. Persons with moderate TBI generally can make a good recovery with treatment and successfully learn to compensate for their deficits.
Source: Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program & Brain Injury Association. Brain Injury and You. 1996.
Severe Brain Injury (GCS Below 8)
Severe brain injury occurs when a prolonged unconscious state or coma lasts days, weeks, or months. Severe brain injury is further categorized into subgroups with separate features:
- Coma
- Vegetative State
- Persistent Vegetative State
- Minimally Responsive State
- Akinetic Mutism
- Locked-in Syndrome
I hope you have found this information helpful as stated in the first paragraph please visit http://www.biausa.org/index.htm for more detailed information on Traumatic Brain Injuries or to find local support groups for individual states.
