March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury that affects the way the brain works, as it can cause physical, sensory, cognitive, and behavioral changes. TBIs are usually caused by a blow or jolt to the head or an object penetrating the brain tissue. Traumatic Brain Injuries are the largest cause of death from injury in the US.
Mild traumatic brain injuries may only affect the brain cells temporarily, while more serious ones can result in brain bruising, torn tissue, bleeding, and physical damage to the brain, which can result in long-term complications or death. TBIs can have a range of physical and psychological effects on a person. While some signs and symptoms may show quickly after an injury, others may take days or weeks to appear.
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury vary by the severity of the injury. The physical symptoms can include the following: loss of consciousness, a headache that is persistent and/or worsening, nausea/vomiting that can be single or repeated, fatigue/drowsiness, inability to wake from sleep, problems with speech, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and dilation of one or both pupils. Sensory symptoms can include blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth, or changes in the ability to smell and sensitivity to light and sound. Cognitive and behavioral symptoms are described as the loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes, no loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented, memory or concentration problems, mood changes or mood swings, feeling depressed or anxiousness, profound confusion as well as agitation, and combativeness with others.
March is the time to raise awareness around the fact that these injuries can lead to permanent changes in someone’s daily life and advocacy regarding brain injuries. During this month, we can read information on brain injuries and become familiar with policies regarding those who have experienced traumatic brain injuries.
