Brain injuries affect more people than you might think. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report than an average of 155 people die every day as a result of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. While some people can instantly identify brain injuries in some cases, other incidents may take days or weeks to show. It is critical to identify the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injuries as soon as possible in order to maximize the recovery rate.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, signs of mild traumatic brain injuries include the following:
- Headaches that increase in intensity
- Sensory deficiencies, such as trouble hearing and visual issues
- Mood changes
- Trouble sleeping or constant fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle weakness and tingling in the extremities
People who have brain injuries may also find it difficult to concentrate, problem solve or focus on a task. They could suffer from short-memory loss and depression. Moderate to severe cases of brain trauma include seizures, convulsions, slurred speech and trouble swallowing. Keep in mind that the symptoms will vary depending on the area of the brain that was injured as well as the severity of the impact.
Any sudden impact to the head may cause the brain to reverberate within the skull cavity. The soft tissue of the brain may bruise, bleed and become inflamed. The increased pressure caused by the swelling of the brain may lead to additional injuries. Through brain scans and evaluation of symptoms, physicians can diagnose brain injuries and customize a treatment plan.