How to Prevent Brain Damage

When it comes to preventing brain damage, it’s a no brainer! Protect your head as much as you can to avoid traumatic injuries.

Question 1 of 5:

Background

If you take a serious bump, blow, or jolt to the head, it can interfere with the way your brain sends and receives signals. Depending on how serious the injury is, you can have symptoms that range from mild headaches and confusion to serious memory loss and loss of consciousness.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
TBIs are a serious problem. In just 2014, an average of 155 people died a day in the US as a result of TBIs. Even if your injury isn’t life-threatening, TBIs can have symptoms that linger for a few days or weeks or can last the rest of your life.^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
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Anybody’s brain can be damaged if it takes a hard enough hit.^{[3]XExpert SourceMichael Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN
Board Certified Brain Health PhysicianExpert Interview. 19 February 2020.} Elderly folks can be more prone to accidental falls, and young children may not be as aware of their surroundings, which can lead to accidents that can cause TBIs.^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
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Question 2 of 5:

Causes

The vast majority of brain injuries happen because you hit your head.^{[5]XExpert SourceMichael Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN
Board Certified Brain Health PhysicianExpert Interview. 19 February 2020.} It can happen as a result of a nasty fall, a sports injury, an explosion, or by getting hit in the head by a hard object.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
Car accidents can be traumatic for your entire body, but they can be especially damaging to your brain if your head gets jerked or knocked into something during the crash. The injury can be especially bad if you aren’t wearing a seatbelt, which can help keep your body and your head protected from getting thrown around in a wreck.^{[7]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
It’s easy to hit your head whenever you fall, so if you trip, slip, or take a nasty spill, it can cause a TBI.^{[8]XExpert SourceMichael Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN
Board Certified Brain Health PhysicianExpert Interview. 19 February 2020.} This is especially true for seniors, who may have mobility or stability issues and may be more likely to fall.^{[9]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
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Question 3 of 5:

Symptoms

Your brain does a whole lot more than just think and move your muscles. If you take a hard enough blow to the head, it can affect you in all sorts of ways, including physical. The side effects of TBIs can include headache or migraine, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and sensitivity to light.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
TBIs can also affect your senses. You can have blurred vision, ringing in your ears, a bad taste in your mouth, or a change in your ability to smell.^{[11]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
A traumatic injury to your brain can cause all sorts of mental issues. Among them include memory or concentration problems, mood changes or mood swings, and depression or anxiety.^{[12]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
Because young children and infants may not be able to communicate their symptoms to you, it can be trickier to spot a TBI. Look for changes in their eating habits, extra irritability, persistent crying, or an inability to pay attention. Additional symptoms of TBIs in children include seizures, a depressed mood, drowsiness, and a loss of interest in their favorite toys or activities.^{[13]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
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Question 4 of 5:

Treatment

Before you start driving, make sure you and anybody else in the vehicle with you are wearing seatbelts. They can save your life and help prevent TBIs if you get into an accident.^{[14]XResearch source}
Driving while intoxicated or under the influence is very dangerous and can cause you to get into an accident. You could hurt yourself or somebody else. Don’t get into a car with another driver under the influence and don’t drive if you aren’t completely sober to help prevent accidents and potential TBIs.^{[15]XResearch source}
Put on a helmet whenever you ride a bicycle, skateboard, motorcycle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle. Protect your head when you’re playing baseball or contact sports, as well as while skiing, skating, snowboarding, or riding a horse.^{[16]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
Have your eyes checked at least once a year and update your eyeglasses if you already wear them. If you need glasses, get them and wear them! Being able to see can help prevent tripping and accidental falls.^{[17]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
Install window guards to keep children from falling out of open windows and place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs whenever children are around. Make sure any playground you let your child play on has soft material under it such as hardwood mulch or sand so they have some cushion if they fall.^{[18]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
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Question 5 of 5:

Prognosis

While TBIs can’t be fully cured, you can take steps to prevent them. Take as many safety precautions as you can to help protect your brain from traumatic injuries.^{[19]XResearch source}
Your brain is incredibly adaptive, and if it gets damaged, it can sometimes learn to reroute information and function around the injured area. Other parts of your brain can also make up for the damaged areas. Each brain injury and recovery is unique, sometimes taking months or even years. But with treatment and rehabilitation, your brain may be able to eventually heal from a traumatic injury.^{[20]XTrustworthy SourceJohns Hopkins MedicineOfficial resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins HospitalGo to source}
A concussion is a mild form of TBI caused by a blow to the head. If you have a concussion, don’t ignore your symptoms and try to tough it out. Take some time to rest and recover. As the days go by, you’ll start feeling better.^{[21]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source} For most people, the symptoms of a concussion can go away within 3 months, but they can sometimes last for a year or more.^{[22]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
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