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Mass Tort Update
The annual numbers are staggering and, in the majority of cases, preventable
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Last week we covered the details of when and how to find the best helmet for your sports and recreational activity. This week we focus on other ways to prevent or reduce the risk of damaging that all-important art of your body, the brain.
The statistics for traumatic brain injuries are staggering -- 50,000 die, 90,000 are left with long-term disability. Traumatic Brain Injury can permanently and tragically change lives in an instant.
What's the significance of the numbers for you? Statistics can wow us with percentages and tell us how many of what occur each second, minute, day, year. But honestly, what does it do for you? What kind of personal risk do you face and how can you not become a brain injury statistic?
Understanding what the numbers really mean might be the first step in motivating you to make some easy lifestyle changes to avoid brain injury. First though, remember that brain injury is what most of us would group together with all head injuries. It's more specific than that. We can bump our heads without suffering brain injury.
By definition, a Traumatic Brain Injury is one in which the head suddenly hits something or is hit or an object penetrates into the brain, causing a disruption in the brain's function. The injury might be mild, such as is seen with many concussions, or it can be severe with permanent destruction of brain tissue that results in permanent changes in functioning.
CHANGES IN THE BRAIN
Because of the complexity of the brain, the loss of function covers a nearly endless arena. The changes that can result from brain injury can be divided into three main categories: Physical, cognitive and behavioral.
Physical changes may include problems with vision or speech, decreased coordination, muscle spasticity, paralysis, seizures, sleeping difficulties, difficulty swallowing, speaking and more.
The cognitive (thinking) deficits might include long- and short-term memory problems, slow thinking, difficulty reading or writing, attention and concentration issues, difficulties with perception, communication, reasoning, judgment and problem solving.
Behavioral changes often include mood swings, depression, anxiety, difficulty with self-esteem and motivation, sexual dysfunction, restlessness, impatience, irritability, agitation, inappropriate laughing or crying, anger control issues, violence, delusions and more.
That's a pretty involved list of consequences that could become part of one's life, for good, just because they forgot to wear a seatbelt, dove into a shallow pool after a few beers, tried out a friend's dirt bike without a helmet, didn't think it was too risky standing on the top rung of the ladder, and many more preventable tragedies that can, and have, changed lives.
REDUCING THE RISK
How can you reduce the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury for you or your loved ones? You can start by using a seatbelt (or the appropriate car seat or restraint for children) and wearing the right helmet for a particular sport or activity and wearing it correctly.
Ensure that rooms in your home have good lighting (older adults need brighter lights); get rid of scatter rugs or use the non-slip fabric underneath or double-sided carpet tape; check carpeting on stairs for fraying or loose parts; be sure that all stairways (including porch stairs) have strong and sturdy hand rails. Keep the floor and grounds at home clear of tripping hazards, such as shoes by the stairs, toys and books.
In the bathroom, install hand grip bars near the toilet and tub (this is especially important for older adults or people with limited agility).
At the playground, check the ground for adequate, intact padding. Do not allow your child to play on playground equipment while wearing a helmet; the helmet's chin strap can get caught on equipment and pose a risk of strangulation.
Keep firearms unloaded and locked. Many traumatic brain injuries are the result of accidental gunshot wounds.
Check ride-on toys and sports equipment for safety before your children use them.
The majority of traumatic brain injuries that occur annually are preventable, particularly those caused primarily by falls and motor vehicle accidents. Your actions (or inactions) will directly affect your risk.
Gail Larkin's column on Emergency care appears Monday in the Health section. Questions and comments can be addressed to her in care of the Advance.
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