Traumatic brain injuries may be considered a public health crisis

Brain injuries are affecting thousands of people all across the country. Many people first begin experiencing problems when an impact to the head causes the soft tissues of the brain to hit the bony structures of the skull. When this happens, the slamming can cause injury to the tissue in the form of lesions or tears.

Whether the injury was caused by a motor vehicle accident or a hard hit on the football field, victims may be facing years of rehabilitation and medical costs. Dr. Sandeep Vaishnavi, who co-authored the book “The Traumatized Brain – A Family Guide to Understanding Mood, Memory and Behavior after Brain Injury,” is very knowledgeable about the consequences of such an injury. He says that while people can typically recover from a single minor brain injury, many people experience multiple brain injuries over time. A few of these minor brain injuries can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE, which has been found in a number of football players.

Many people do fully recover from a head injury, but some of the people suffering from a TBI will face a lifetime of cognitive problems, loss of memory, depression and other life-changing consequences. The risk of injury to children and teenagers is particularly significant. Young people’s brains are generally more resilient than adult brains. However, if a young person suffers a traumatic brain injury during a period of growth, there is a chance that they will face permanent disability. Because of these risks, it is important that everyone does whatever they possibly can to protect themselves and their children from brain injuries, and seek to recover maximum damages if a TBI does occur.

Source: KNPR, “The Traumatized Brain: Understanding Mood, Memory and Behavior after Brain Injury,” Chris Sieroty, Dec. 1, 2015