Knowing the signs of a concussion, traumatic brain injury

FORT SILL, Okla._March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month, and local doctors hope to get the word out.

Doctors want the public to know about the consequences of concussions and other brain injuries. They are making it their mission to help people know what to look for when it comes to these types of injuries.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that there are between 1.6 million and 1.8 million concussions suffered each year, but often times go ignored. In some cases, symptoms can worsen and even lead to death.

"The analogy I use is that it's almost like control+alt+delete on a computer, where a lot of systems turn off and turn back on in a certain order," said Fort Sill neuropsychologist Dr. Jason Albano.

Dr. Albano says suffering a concussion can often times lead to confusion and unexplained symptoms, such as dizziness. If left untreated, it can make future diagnosis and treatment more difficult.

"One of the key parts of brain injury awareness, also kind of what I do, is try to do is get the importance of early identification. That really is one of the most critical factors when it comes to helping somebody work through a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury," said Dr. Albano.

Once diagnosed and treated, Dr. Albano says he often sees a huge change in his patients' quality of life.

"Looking at it holistically, we want to see their sleep get better, their headaches improve, their memory get better, then the family notices and it bolsters their confidence and return to duty or getting back into an active lifestyle," said Dr. Albano.

Dr. Albano says 80 percent of diagnosed traumatic brain injuries are concussions, which can range from mild to severe. He says when it comes to traumatic brain injuries, there is an acronym that you want to keep in mind, H.E.A.D.S. It stands for headache, ear ringing, altered consciousness, dizziness, double vision, and the feeling that something is not right.

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, someone sustains a traumatic brain injury every 13-seconds in the U.S.

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Knowing the signs of a concussion, traumatic brain injury