What are the different kinds of brain injury?
There are two main types of brain injury. Within these two types there are different sub-types and levels of brain injury. The first kind of brain injury is traumatic brain injury. In this type of injury, the brain is damaged by an outside. This type of injury usually affects one area of the brain. An acquired brain injury, on the other hand, is damage to the brain on a cellular level. In this type of injury, cells in all areas of the brain are affected.
What are the causes of brain injury?
The most common causes of traumatic brain injury are blows to the head, car accidents, falls, and sports-related injuries. The most common causes of acquired brain injury are lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain. This is most frequently caused by almost drowning, choking, or strangulation; obstruction of airways; vascular problems; heart attacks and strokes; infectious diseases; exposure to toxic chemicals and gases; and electric shock or lightning strikes.
What are the symptoms of brain injury?
Common symptoms include loss of consciousness, dilated pupils, vomiting, paralysis or muscle weakness, loss of coordination, dizziness, difficulty speaking or swallowing, memory issues,change in personality, difficulty processing thoughts, and problems with body temperature,metabolism, and pulse. A person who experiences any of these symptoms should contact their physician immediately, go to the emergency room, or dial 911.
What is the prognosis for brain injury?
It depends upon the type and level of brain injury. Since every brain issue behaves differently, it can sometimes takes months or even years to determine what the eventual prognosis will be. As a general rule of thumb, the more severe the injury is and the longer the recovery period is, the more long-term effects the survivor will experience once recovery has reached a plateau. Once the initial swelling in the brain has reduced, damaged brain cells will begin to function to some degree or another over a period of time. In some cases areas that are permanently damaged are supported by healthy cells. In other cases, the damage is so severe that cells are no longer able to function.
Is surgery required in brain injury patients?
No, surgery isn’t always required in brain injury patients. In many cases, time is the best healer. However, in cases where surgery is required, such as to remove a blood clot, the long-term prognosis is similar to those cases where surgery wasn’t required.
What are the best ways to live with a brain injury?
Depending upon its severity, a brain injury changes the life of a person to one degree or another. In addition to medical care, a survivor of a brain injury often needs a combination of physical and neurological rehabilitation, as well as psychological counseling in order to deal with the many impairments that go hand-in-hand with head injury.