Brain injury is called the ‘silent’ epidemic with 5.3 million Americans live with brain injury and occurs every 23 seconds. A brain injury is defined as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. The following are 10 facts that you should know about brain injuries.
No two brain injuries are exactly the same
The effects of a brain injury depends on the cause, location and severity
Depending on the severity of the brain injury, effects may include temporary loss of consciousness or coma, respiratory or damaged motor functions.
A concussion can be caused by direct blows to the head, gunshot wound, violent shaking of the head or force from a whiplash.
A contusion is a bruise (bleeding) on the brain caused by a force to the head
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex injury with a broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities
TBI is a contributing factor to a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States
Almost half-a million emergency room visits for TBI are made annually by children aged 0 to 14
In every age group, TBI rates are higher for males than for females
TBI is a major cause of death and disability in the United States
References
http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com
