March Is Brain Injury Awareness Month

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has designated Brain Injury Awareness Month this March.

According to the BIAA, a brain injury can happen anytime, anywhere, to anyone – a brain injury does not discriminate. In fact, 1.7 million Americans sustain a brain injury each year.

Recently, brain injuries have received significant publicity due to the efforts of those in the professional sports community, such as the National Football League (NFL), to highlight the extent of brain trauma and the lasting damage it causes. In fact, former NFL Baltimore Colt and MSHC staff member spoke about this in a recent blog (NFL Player Safety with Bruce Laird).

However, brain injuries are not restricted to those in high-risk activities such as professional sports. At Multi-Specialty Healthcare, we believe it is important that we educated the community on any and all important medical areas. Here is some information to keep in mind from the BIAA:

Symptoms of Brain Injury

• Physical Impairments including: speech, vision, hearing, headaches, motor coordination, spasticity of muscles, paresis or paralysis, seizure disorders, balance and fatigue.
• Cognitive Impairments including: short term memory deficits, impaired concentration, slowness of thinking, limited attention span, impairments of perception, communication skills, planning, writing, reading, and judgment.
• Emotional Impairments including: mood swings, self-centeredness, anxiety, depression, lowered self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, restlessness, lack of motivation, and difficulty controlling emotions.

Tips to Aid Recovery

• If you suspect a head injury, first go to a physician for an exam.
• Get lots of rest. Don’t rush back to daily activities such as work or school.
• Avoid doing anything that could cause another blow or jolt to the head.
• Ask your doctor when it’s safe to drive a car, ride a bike, or use heavy equipment because your ability to react may be slower after a brain injury.
• Take only the medications your doctor has approved, and don’t drink alcohol until your doctor says it’s okay to do so.
• Write things down if you have a hard time remembering.
• You may need help to re-learn skills that were lost. Contact the Brain Injury Association in your state to learn more about the programs, support systems and services available to people with brain injury and their families.
• Visit www.biausa.org for resources and support.