Traumatic brain injury is a heavy burden on both the victim and their family. There are a range of complications and hardships that come with a TBI. The recovery process is long and in some of the worst cases, impossible to recover from completely.
What Causes a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury, TBI for short, occurs when the brain is damaged. This means that physical blows to the head or body are not the only way to sustain a TBI. Actually, brain damage can be caused by any of the following:
- A blow to the head, which can cause damage to brain cells in a specific area to the brain.
- A blow or jolt that causes your brain to bounce around inside your skull can cause brain damage in multiple areas.
- An object penetrating the skull and brain tissue can cause catastrophic injury to the brain.
- Bleeding and oxygen deprivation can be just as damaging as a blow to the head.
Common causes of TBI include, but are not limited to:
- Car accidents
- Falls
- Violence
- Prescription drugs
- Birth injury
- Sports injuries
What Are Some Effects of TBI?
The symptoms of a TBI range widely depending on the severity and cause of the injury.
Mild TBIs, such as a concussion, can result in any or all of the following symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Memory loss
- Confusion or dizziness
- Insomnia
- Light sensitivity
- Mood changes
- Fatigue
- Ears ringing
- Loss of consciousness for a few minutes
Moderate or severe TBIs, caused by serious accidents or birth injury, can include the same effects of the mild TBI’s as well as:
- Persistent headaches
- Sever seizures
- Inability to wake up
- Extreme confusion
- Problems speaking
- Clear fluid draining from ears and nose
- Coma
After sustaining any kind of head injury, you should immediately contact a doctor. Even if you feel like you’re okay, go to the doctor. TBIs are notorious for causing delayed issues due to bleeds and other problems that you may not be aware of until it’s too late.