Brain Injury Awareness Month
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Brain Injury Awareness Month: More Than 1 Million People Sustain TBIs Each Year
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is becoming a common wound of modern warfare. It has even been coined the “signature wound” of the War on Terror.
In the United States, 1.7 million people sustain a TBI each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the military population in 2010, just over 30,000 service members were diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. While TBI is becoming more prevalent in wartime activity, many service men and women continue to go undiagnosed.
What is TBI?
A traumatic brain injury is caused by forced trauma (bump, blow or jolt) to the head, either by being shaken or hit which temporarily disrupts the normal function of the brain. The most common cause of a TBI in the military is due to blasts. Other causes of TBI include falls, car accidents, and sports.
Levels of TBI severity
The severity of a TBI is categorized as mild, moderate or severe.
A mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is also known as a concussion. An individual does not have to black out to have sustained a concussion. TBI severity diagnosis is based on the injury event; symptoms do not determine severity.
Of all TBI severities, mild TBI/concussions are most common among service members. Severe TBIs and more complicated cases, including penetrating brain injuries, are on the rise and often require the patient to attend specialty rehabilitative centers.
Warning signs of TBI
Warning signs you had a concussion include:
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Blacked out and/or briefly dazed
- Something doesn’t feel right
Symptoms
Symptoms of concussion include:
- Headache
- Sleep disturbance
- Loss of new memories
- Fatigue
- Change in smell and/or taste
- Temporary loss of hearing and or vision
Symptoms of moederate/severe TBI include:
- Persistent headache
- Seizures
- Changes in muscle function
- Dizziness
- Pain and/or fatigue
- Repeated vomiting and/or nausea
These symptoms may often accompany anxiety, irritability, difficulties processing information, or limited concentration.
Treatment and recovery
At Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, patients receive treatment from a multi-disciplinary TBI team while inpatient and outpatient. Treatment can vary from meeting with a sleep or headache specialist, training at the Brain Fitness Center, being set up with apps, or even soaring on the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN).
Some TBI symptoms may resolve within hours or days, while other symptoms may persist for months. Every traumatic brain injury is unique to each individual including recovery time. Regardless, rest is very important after a TBI because it helps the brain to heal. Ignoring symptoms and trying to “tough it out” will often make symptoms worse. Individuals who experience a concussion, moderate or severe TBI should gradually return to normal activities; avoiding alcohol, tobacco and contact sports while recovering.
Prevention
Recommended TBI preventative measures include:
- Wear a helmet
- Know how to recognize signs of a concussion (mild TBI)
- See a health care provider, especially if something doesn’t feel right.
The WRNMMC TBI chief and site director for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Dr. Louis French, states, “Each one of us knows someone who has had a concussion. It is essential that we all know the signs and symptoms; it will allow us better serve those around us.”
For more information on traumatic brain injury, visit www.dvbic.org.