Writer: Livia Demollari
Introduction
Whether it is at school or in my work life, brain injuries are seen all too often in my everyday life. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) are described as violent blows to the head or body. [1] Maybe you have always seen your classmates with their concussions, unable to participate in assignments or tests. Or maybe you have been one of those people, feeling lucky to not have to use your school's computer for a few days. But have you ever wondered about the neurological impacts of having concussions and similar brain injuries?
How Brain Injuries Happen and How to Prevent Them
Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a variety of factors. These injuries can happen as a result of falls from beds or ladders, vehicle related collisions, violence like gunshot wounds, and sports injuries [1]. For me, it was not shocking to find out that one in five students have reported having a history of Traumatic Brain Injury throughout their lives, according to the National Library of medicine. [3] This likely explains why, throughout the past 15 years, TBI among adolescents is a known global public health issue, with sports related injuries accounting for 41.1% of all TBIs. [3] Accounting for these facts is crucial in teaching other adolescents to try and prevent these injuries. Steps toward prevention include making sure to practice sports safety (ex: wearing helmets) or vehicle safety (not driving under the influence, making sure to have seat belts on when driving, etc). [1]
Neurological Impacts of Brain Injuries
When studying TBIs, it is important to understand the neurological impacts and symptoms they impose. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, one of the most common brain injury type is Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) [2]. DAI is widespread damage to the brain's white matter which can disrupt communication in the brain's nerve cells. It is usually a result of vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and falls. [2] Another common type of mild TBI are concussions. They can be caused by sports injuries, blows to the head, a vehicle accident, and more. [2] While concussions are considered temporary injuries to the brain, they can lead to permanent damage or even death in situations where a second concussion closely follows the first one. [2] Hopefully this information encourages athletes and those driving to think carefully about their safety decisions because what seems like a temporary injury can last for a long time.
Symptoms and Recovery
Traumatic Brain Injuries provide several complications and symptoms including altered consciousness (coma, brain death, etc), physical complications (seizures, headaches, etc), cognitive issues (memory, learning, etc), communication problems, behavioral changes, and more. [1] All these symptoms and complications can affect your day-to-day life, making it hard to complete goals or even small tasks. Mild and severe TBIs are treated differently and their road to recovery similarly varies. For a mild TBI, such as a concussion, it is recommended to meet with a health professional, who is likely to recommend over-the-counter medications or diuretics which help reduce pressure throughout the brain. [2] When it comes to severe TBIs, it is important to directly treat the injury and go through rehabilitation to help towards recovery. [2]
Overall, TBIs can occur due to a variety of factors and situations, and their outcomes differ whether they are mild or severe. One takeaway I have from studying TBIs is that they are all too common among adolescents like myself and can be easily prevented by promoting safety when participating in sports or driving. Let us work together and form safer environments for ourselves and peers by informing ourselves on the dangers of brain injuries and their prevention. As a final note, ask yourself, “what steps will I take today to protect my brain?".
Sources & Works Cited
[1] “Traumatic Brain Injury,” 02/03/2021, Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557#
[2] “Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI),” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi
[3] “Adolescent traumatic brain injuries: Onset, mechanism and links with current academic performance and physical injuries,” 03/12/2020, National Library of Medicine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7067417/#:~:text=One%20in%20five%20students%20reported,for%2041.1%25%20of%20all%20TBIs.
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