When it comes to traumatic brain injury (TBI), it’s important that people in Orange County know the facts. These types of injuries can sometimes have lasting effects, which often affect mobility, emotional response, and even cognitive function. Accordingly, knowing what to expect can help brain injury victims on their road to recovery.
First and foremost, it’s vital to understand just what a traumatic brain injury actually is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a TBI results from an impact to the head that is severe enough to affect brain activity. Mild injuries are referred to as concussions, which typically have less serious symptoms. If the impact is particularly significant, symptoms can last for extended periods of time or even become permanent.
When it comes to causes of TBI, falls are the most likely occurrence, with falls being cited in 47 percent of serious TBI cases. Additionally, those in the oldest and youngest age groups were the most likely to suffer from a TBI as a result of a fall. The next most common cause of TBI is being struck or otherwise impacted by an object, which occurred in 15 percent of the cases.
Statistically, TBIs are a significant cause of death and serious injury. In 2013 alone approximately 50,000 people succumbed to injuries that resulted from a TBI. That same year, up to 2.5 million Americans sought emergency medical treatment after a brain injury occurred, with 282,000 requiring hospitalization. Those most likely to die as a result of a TBI were people aged 75 and older.