Brain injuries greatly impact individuals’ lives

Did you know that every 9 seconds someone in the United States experiences a brain injury?

There are three main types of brain injury:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can occur when the brain is injured by an external force or impact, like during a severe fall or car accident.
• Concussions (sometimes called Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or mTBI) can occur when a sudden source of trauma - such as a jolt, or blow to the head - occurs. Concussions are different from other brain injuries because while the changes to the brain are usually temporary, treatment can be complex. Symptoms also often continue to be a challenge.
• Non-Traumatic Brain Injury (or acquired brain injury) can occur when the brain is damaged due to an external factor, like lack of oxygen or pressure from a growing tumor. Treatment for brain injuries vary from person to person, depending on the location of the injury and a variety of other factors.

SSM Health has a network of teams who help people who have experienced traumatic brain injury. Concussions are the most commonly treated.

“Although they are usually not fatal, concussions can have a major impact on a patient’s life,” said SSM Health Therapy Services supervisor AJ Butts.

Concussions often are thought of in relation to sports injuries, but community members also commonly experience them due to automobile accidents, whiplash, or falls.

“It doesn’t always take a massive amount of force for a concussion to occur, so it’s very important that everyone knows the signs and symptoms,” Butts said. “Early intervention with therapy is the best way to ensure a better recovery.”

Experts estimate there are between 1.6 million and 3.8 million new cases of concussions in the U.S. each year. Persistent symptoms after concussions may include:

• Balance issues or dizziness
• Concentration or memory difficulty
• Irritability
• Double or blurry vision
• Headache
• Feeling sluggish or like your brain is "in a fog"
• Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
• Mood, personality or behavior changes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Sleeping more or less than usual

Learn more about concussions or reach out to a local SSM Health Therapy Services team.