A Visual
Guide to Concussions and Brain Injuries ( courtecy;- webMD )
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Head Injuries and Your Brain
Your brain is well
protected from most damage. It sits inside a hard, bony skull. Layers of
membranes and fluid provide even more padding. But even with all of this
natural protection, the brain can still get injured. And damage to it can
affect everything you do, from thinking to moving. A traumatic brain injury
(TBI) is any blow to the head that's hard enough to affect the brain's
function.
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How Your Brain Can Get Hurt
A hard blow to the head
can shake the brain inside the skull, resulting in bruising, broken blood
vessels, or nerve damage to the brain. When you take a hard hit to the head but
there's no outward bleeding or opening in the skull, it could result in a
closed brain injury. An open brain injury is when an object penetrates the
skull and goes into the brain.
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Brain Injuries: Mild vs. Severe
A TBI can be mild or
severe. A concussion is a mild TBI -- you should recover pretty quickly. A
severe TBI can do enough damage to knock you unconscious for a longer period of
time. It can even lead to a coma or death.
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What is a Concussion?
A concussion is caused
by a jolt that shakes your brain back and forth inside your skull. Any hard hit
to the head or body -- whether it's from a football tackle or a car accident --
can lead to a concussion. Although a concussion is considered a mild brain
injury, it can sometimes leave lasting damage. This is more likely if you don't
rest long enough to let your brain fully heal afterward and you reinjure your
brain.
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How Do You Know It's a Concussion?
After a fall or hit to
the head, you may be knocked out for a few seconds. But many people with
concussions do not black out. A few telltale symptoms will show that you may
have a concussion. Dizziness, nausea or vomiting, blurry vision, headache, and
trouble thinking clearly are all signs that you need to see a doctor to get
your head injury checked out.
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Healing After a Concussion
Just like you need to
rest your ankle after a sprain, you need to rest your brain after a concussion.
Get plenty of sleep to give your brain time to heal. Ease back into activities
like school and work slowly when you start feeling better. Stay off the playing
field until your doctor gives you the OK. Getting a second concussion before
the first one has healed can slow your recovery and increase the risk for
permanent damage.
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Skull Fractures
The skull is pretty
tough. But if it's hit hard enough, it can crack. That's called a skull
fracture. If the sharp edges of a fractured skull bone press into the brain,
they can damage the delicate tissues and lead to bleeding in the brain. One
sign of a skull fracture is clear fluid or blood draining from the nose or
ears.
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Bleeding in the Brain
Your brain can bleed if
it's injured and blood vessels inside it are damaged. The trapped blood can
pool, forming a hematoma. (Intracranial hematomas occur inside of the
skull and usually you do not see a bump. You would see or feel a bump if it
is a superficial bleed outside of the skull.) If the hematoma puts pressure on
the brain, it can squeeze or cut off blood flow to the brain -- a medical
emergency. Signs of a hematoma include headaches, vomiting, and trouble with
balance.
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Diagnosing Brain Injuries
Your doctor can tell
whether you have a brain injury by doing a series of tests. You may be asked
questions to check your memory, concentration, problem-solving ability, and
other brain functions. If you have long-lasting or more severe symptoms, you
may have a brain scan called a CT or MRI.
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Brain Injuries and Memory
An injury can damage the
parts of your brain you need to store and retrieve information. That's why you
may have a harder time remembering your birthday, what you ate for breakfast,
or the accident that caused your brain injury. Some memory loss after a brain
injury is normal, but it should come back. People with severe brain injuries
sometimes lose their memory for longer periods of time.
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Brain Injuries and Movement
An injury can also
damage parts of your brain that help you balance and walk. As a result, you may
feel dizzy -- like the room is spinning. Parts of your brain that help you see
clearly and gauge depth may also be affected. Physical therapy and other rehabilitation
can improve your balance and movement after a head injury.
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Brain Injuries and Mood
You may not feel like
yourself after a TBI. Up to half of people experience symptoms of depression --
including persistent sadness and sleeplessness. Some have wild mood swings --
laughing one minute and then crying the next. Others feel overly angry or anxious.
If you can't control your emotions, talk to your doctor about treatments.
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Long-Term Effects of Brain Injuries
A serious brain injury
can stick with you for life. Problems thinking, moving, and controlling your
emotions may not go away, especially if you've taken many hits to the head
(from sports, for example). There's some evidence that having a TBI increases
your risk for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and other brain disorders as
you get older.
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Recovery from Severe Brain Injury
For mild injuries like
concussions, the best therapy is to rest and give your brain a chance to heal.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help with the physical and
mental side effects of severe brain injuries. Counseling sessions with a
psychologist or psychiatrist can help you learn to live with your injury.
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How Common Are Brain Injuries?
Every year, about 2.5
million people have an accident that leads to a traumatic brain injury. Most
head injuries are mild, including concussions. But hundreds of thousands of
serious brain injuries happen every year.
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Children and Brain Injuries
Brain injuries rank
among the leading causes of disability and death in children. Nearly half a
million kids -- more boys than girls -- visit an emergency room for a brain
injury each year. Kids with TBI can have more trouble learning, compared with
their peers. They may also struggle with behavioral and emotional problems.
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Is It Just a Bump on the Head?
Learning to walk is a
wobbly time. An unsteady toddler can take a lot of tumbles. Luckily, kids are
pretty resilient, and most bounce right back from a small bump on the head. But
if your child won't stop crying, is throwing up, says his head or neck hurts,
or has trouble waking up after a fall, call the doctor right away.
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Safety on Bikes
Once they reach school
age, kids are at risk from sports injuries and bicycle and car accidents. Teach
kids to wear closely fitting helmets and other safety gear during sports and
recreational activities. And make sure they follow bike safety rules about traffic
and road hazards.
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Head Injuries from Sports
Head injuries are common
in professional and amateur sports like football, baseball, and hockey. Some
professional leagues have even improved their sideline policies to treat
athletes' head injuries more effectively. If you don't want to be carried off
the field, wear a helmet that fits snugly every time you play. Supervise kids
so they don't get too rough or play sports that aren't right for their age. And
obey the rules to prevent falls and head-on collisions.
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Safety in Cars
A car accident can
thrust your head forward -- or worse, propel you from the vehicle headfirst.
Before you put the key in the ignition, put on your seatbelt and buckle your
child in an age-appropriate safety seat. Teach kids to wear seatbelts when
riding in cars or school buses.
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Preventing Head Injuries from Falls
You don't have to fall
far, or hard, to hurt your head. To avoid taking a tumble, clean up the
clutter, cords, and other hazards that may cause you to fall. Install lights
above hallways and stairs so you don't stumble while going to the bathroom at
night. Secure all rugs and mats firmly to the floor so they don't slide around.
This tool does not provide medical advice.
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