Have you ever hit your head and “did not feel right” afterwards? If you experienced headaches, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to noise, or difficulty remembering things, you may have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Traumatic brain injuries can occur after a direct bump, blow, or jolt to the head, a rapid deceleration or acceleration of your head as in whiplash, or a penetrating head injury. In a recent study by the CDC, the three leading causes of TBI are falls, unintentional blunt trauma (being hit by an object), and car accidents.

Prevention

• Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, motorcycle, scooter, or recreation vehicle; playing a contact sport; using in-line skates or riding a skateboard; batting or running bases; riding a horse; or skiing or snowboarding. However, helmets do not decrease the risk of concussion.
• Make sure helmet is worn correctly, fits well, and is in good condition.
• Take steps to prevent falls.
• Always wear a seat belt.
• Buckling your child in the car using a child safety seat or booster seat according to the child’s height, weight, and age.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Make living area safer for seniors, including improving lighting through the home, removing tripping hazards, using non-slip mats, and installing handrails on both sides of stairways.
• Make living areas safer for children, including using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

Symptoms

Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild concussions to severe, life-threatening injuries. If you suspect you or someone else may have a concussion or TBI, it is important to cease physical activity. During the minutes to hours following a head injury, the injured person should be observed closely. In concussion and milder injuries, the symptoms usually lessen over several minutes to hours. If the injured person’s symptoms worsen or their level of consciousness decreases, he or she should be taken immediately to the emergency room. Consider calling 911 if you are more than a few minutes from the hospital.

Some of these symptoms occur at the time of the injury, while others may not be noticed until the person returns to their everyday lives. It is a misconception that you must experience a “blackout” to have a concussion; in fact, loss of consciousness occurs in only 10% of concussions.

Treatment and Recovery

When it comes to recovery from a traumatic brain injury, physical and cognitive rest is key. Ignoring your symptoms and trying to “tough it out” often makes symptoms worse. A good adage to follow is, “when in doubt, sit it out.” Cognitive rest may include a temporary leave from work or school; shortening work or school days; and minimizing activities that require concentration and attention, such as playing video games or using a computer. Physical rest requires that people refrain from any physical exertion until they have been asymptomatic at rest without taking medications for at least 24 hours.

You should slowly and gradually return to your daily activities only after you receive clearance from your health care provider once your symptoms are significantly reduced. For student athletes, the transition back to full play should take a minimum of five days; however, ten days is more typical. If your symptoms come back or you get new symptoms as you become more active, this is a sign you are pushing yourself too hard. If you do not think you are getting better, or think you are getting worse, tell your physician.