If you have ever been the victim of a serious fall or car accident, you may have experienced a concussion or brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are rather common to those who have been in an accident. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 61,000 people die due to brain trauma across the country every year.
While you may not feel like you are suffering from brain trauma, it is important to understand the symptoms of these injuries. You may not know that mild discomfort could result from a brain injury and could lead to long-lasting problems if not treated immediately.
What are the signs of a brain injury?
Traumatic brain injuries can have varying symptoms depending on the area of the brain affected and the severity of the injury. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, common signs of mild to moderate brain injuries include the following:
- Confusion and dizziness
- Headaches
- Fatigue or a change in sleeping patterns
- Slurred speech
- Trouble seeing, hearing or speaking
- Difficulty remembering event or trouble concentrating
Severe brain trauma involves seizures, repeated nausea and vomiting, increased confusion, slurred speech and weakness or tingling in the extremities.
How do brain injuries occur?
The CDC reports that falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries. Car accidents are the second-leading cause of brain injury-related deaths in the U. S. each year. A sudden crash or impact to the head can cause the soft brain tissue to smack into the skull bone. This can result in swelling of the brain, bleeding and bruising of tissue.