The human brain is a major organ that literally regulates and controls every single thing our bodies do. It’s like a giant computer that sends and receives information in the form of neurons to every part of the body. It is what makes each of us unique. It is the very reason we are able to think, speak, see, hear, breathe, walk, talk, learn, etc. Our thoughts, memories, movements, behaviors, and emotions are all regulated by our brains. Therefore, when someone experiences any type of trauma/injury to the head, the results can be devastatingly severe, and in worst cases, can result in death.
According to the National Institute of Health, millions of people in the United States suffer from TBIs.
The NIH states that a TBI can occur when the head “suddenly and violently hits an object or when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue.”
A concussion is a type of brain injury and is a common occurrence in contact sports. Concussions can occur following a hit or blow to the head or body, that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Concussions are not typically life threatening but can still cause serious neurological symptoms.
Symptoms Of Concussions And Traumatic Brain Injuries
Common Concussion Symptoms can include
- Headache
- Nausea
- Neck pain
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Fatigue
- Confusion or a dazed feeling
Severe Concussion/TBI Symptoms can include:
- Migraine or severe headache
- Vertigo
- Confusion
- Lightheadedness/dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light and sounds
- Lethargy/Fatigue
- Changes in sleep
- Behavioral/Mood changes
- Memory loss
- Trouble focusing, thinking, paying attention
- Trouble with speech
- Brain bleed (hematoma) or bruising of the brain tissue (contusion)
TBI Statistics (from CDC.Gov)
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death. Based on the most recent data:
- There were approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020 and 69,473 TBI-related deaths in 2021.
- This represents more than 586 TBI-related hospitalizations and 190 TBI-related deaths per day.
- These estimates do not include the many TBIs that are only treated in the emergency department, primary care, urgent care, or those that go untreated.
- People aged 75 years and older had the highest numbers and rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths. This age group accounts for about 32% of TBI-related hospitalizations and 28% of TBI-related deaths.
- Males were nearly two times more likely to be hospitalized (79.9 age-adjusted rate versus 43.7) and three times more likely to die1 from a TBI than females (28.3 versus 8.4).
Facts
The most common causes of TBIs are from falls, automobile accidents, firearm injuries, and assaults. According to the research from the CDC, “falls lead to nearly half of the TBI-related hospitalizations.”
TBIs are often missed in the elderly. They are more likely to be hospitalized and die from a TBI compared to all other age groups. TBIs are often missed in older adults due to the symptoms of a TBI overlapping with other medical conditions, such as dementia, and especially if the person takes blood thinner (anticoagulants/antiplatelet) medications like warfarin (Coumadin), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), etc.
These medications increase the risk of bleeding in the brain following a TBI, which increases the risk of severe injury and/or death.
Children who have sustained a severe TBI may experience disrupted brain development, changes in their health, ability to concentrate, think, and cause behavioral issues that could adversely affect their ability to self-regulate emotions, affect their learning ability, and affect their social skills.
