A traumatic brain injury can happen to anyone in Massachusetts. It’s important to understand what this injury is and how it can affect you.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury develops from a sharp blow or jolt to the head. The impact can cause the brain to shift inside the skull, violently making contact with its interior.
Traumatic brain injuries can be mild or severe and temporary or permanent. They can drastically change a person’s life, and in some cases can be fatal.
What causes traumatic brain injuries?
A TBI can occur due to a variety of causes. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading one. A car accident can violently jolt a person’s head and entire body. Accidents between vehicles and pedestrians or individuals riding other vehicles like bicycles or motorcycles can also cause TBIs.
Acts of violence such as vicious assaults or gunshots can lead to TBI. Babies can develop serious brain injuries if they are violently shaken.
Falls are among the most common causes of TBIs in elderly people. Young children can also develop a brain injury if they slip, fall and hit their heads.
Contact sports such as football, boxing or hockey can commonly result in traumatic brain injuries. Members of the military in active duty are also susceptible to TBIs.
What are the symptoms of TBIs?
There are many symptoms a person with a TBI could experience. After a car accident or fall or other situation resulting in a blow or jolt to the head, headaches, nausea and vomiting are telltale signs of a possible TBI. Usually, these symptoms indicate a mild injury like a concussion. It’s common to experience dizziness, fatigue and balance issues as well.
The more severe the TBI, the worse the symptoms. Someone with a serious injury might lose consciousness, have a weakness in their extremities and might experience seizures. They often also have cognitive difficulties.