Brain Injuries Need Immediate Treatment | FinancialContent …

Brain injuries can happen to anyone and from nearly any type of accident. Even though symptoms may not appear immediately, immediate treatment is critical for brain injuries.

LOS ANGELES, CA, November 08, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In 2009, actress Natasha Richardson fell during a beginner skiing lesson. At first, she did not seem to be seriously hurt. She talked and made jokes before returning to her hotel room. There, however, she complained of head pain and was taken to a hospital. Richardson later died of an epidural hematoma, a brain injury that happens when the arteries tear after the skull is struck hard, resulting in bleeding.

Richardson's tragic story illustrates two important points about brain injuries. First, brain injuries can happen to anyone and from nearly any type of accident. Second, even though symptoms may not appear immediately, immediate treatment is critical for brain injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) happen when a blow to the head or a penetrating injury disrupts normal brain activity. They are common - about 3.5 million people suffered from a TBI in 2009, though most were concussions. TBIs contribute to nearly one-third of all injury-related deaths in this country.

Causes Of Brain Injuries

The cause of Richardson's brain injury was one of the most common accidents to cause brain injuries: falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

35.2 percent of brain injuries happen from falls 17.2 percent happen from traffic accidents 16.5 percent happen when a victim is struck by or against an object 10 percent happen from assaults 21 percent have unknown or other causes

In short, any accident or incident that causes a blow to the head can cause a brain injury. The potential for serious long-term impacts is a major reason why people with brain injuries should seek an immediate evaluation.

What Happens After A Brain Injury

Brain injuries are complex to treat. This is because a brain injury is rarely just one injury. Instead, the damage develops after the initial impact. TBIs involve primary injuries, which happen at the time of the injury, and secondary injuries. Doctors cannot reverse primary injuries, but they can reduce the restricted blood supply, swelling and other secondary injuries to the brain.

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