A Guide To Traumatic Brain Injuries

From a bad fall to a car accident, there are a number of ways you can end up injuring yourself, including your brain. Commonly referred to as TBIs, traumatic brain injuries are serious and should be treated by a doctor right away. Understanding what they are and the symptoms of TBIs is vital.

What Is a TBI?

A traumatic brain injury is also known as a TBI. It happens when someone sustains a blow to the head, whether that blow is non-penetrating or penetrating. Traumatic brain injuries may be minor, severe, or anywhere in between. While many people recover from TBIs within a few days, others sustain permanent injuries or even die because of the TBIs they sustain.

Who Is Most Susceptible To Sustaining a TBI?

Anybody is in danger of sustaining a TBI, but some people are more susceptible to them than other people are. In fact, 80% of TBIs happen to males. Additionally, people who are 65 or older are more likely to receive a TBI since they are a greater fall risk. People in certain professions are also more likely to have a TBI. Athletes, especially football players, often suffer from TBIs, as do construction workers, law enforcement officers, and members of the military.

What Are the Different Types of TBIs?

Several factors determine how serious a TBI is. Doctors will consider whether the patient lost consciousness, whether there were other neurological symptoms related to the injury, whether there was a loss of memory, and whether there were abnormalities present in an MRI or CT of the brain. TBIs are then separated into different grades based on these symptoms.

The most common type of TBI is a mild concussion. These types of TBIs may cause the injured person to have a brief loss of consciousness (30 minutes or less) or to feel as if they’ve been dazed. Concussions typically last for about one day. There are several othe grades as well.

• Moderate TBI –These head injuries occur if the injured person loses consiousness for more than 30 minutes but less than one day. The patient may be confused for about a week.
• Severe TBI –Severe head injuries lose consciousness for at least one day. These injuries are the types that are most likely to show up on an MRI or CT scan.

TBIs can also be complicated or uncomplicated, open or closed, and nontraumatic. Complicated TBIs show changes on a scan, such as bleeding, while uncomplicated ones have normal scans regardless of the severity of the TBI. Most TBIs are closed, which means the cause was a blow to the head. Open TBIs are also referred to as penetrating TBIs and involve a penetrating injury such as a knife or bullet. Finally, nontraumatic TBIs occur if someone has a stroke, seizure, near-fatal drowning, or other serious medical emergency.

What Are the Symptoms of a TBI?

People who have a mild TBI may not experience symptoms right away but could do so a few days after the injury. The most common symptom of a TBI is a loss of consciousness. There are other symptoms of TBIs as well.

• Changes in mood
• Seizures or convulsions
• Dizziness or fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to smell or light
• Slurred speech
• Memory problems or confusion
• Blurred vision or dilated pupils
• Headaches
• Restlessness
• Sleeping too much or not enough

If the person who is suffering from a TBI is an infant or child, they may cry nonstop and be inconsolable. They may also refuse to eat or drink.

What Are the Treatments for a TBI?

If there is bleeding in the brain, the patient may need to undergo surgery to reduce pressure from brain swelling. Rest is always important, no matter how serious the brain injury is. Some patients need physical, occupational, or speech therapy. Finally, regardless of the severity of the TBI, many people find that counseling helps them manage the stress and worry that comes with sustaining a TBI.

If you think that you or someone you love may have sustained a TBI, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Doing so will help to ensure the patient does not lose fuction of the brain or worse.