• 29
  • July
    2011

The medical data about the damage done by traumatic brain injuries continues to accumulate. Some of the common symptoms of mild TBI, such as memory loss, mood changes, and blurred vision, are becoming better known - in part because of the increased attention being paid to concussions in football and other sports.

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries often show symptoms that are even more troubling. According to the Mayo Clinic, these can include extreme confusion, prolonged feelings of nausea, and loss of bladder or bowel control.

The latest research finding is that traumatic brain injuries can also increase the risk of suffering a stroke. A study conducted in Taiwan found that people suffering from TBI were at heightened risk of having a stroke for as long as five years.

The increased risk of stroke in the first three months after suffering traumatic brain injury was a factor of 10. The findings were reported in Stroke, an online professional journal published by the American Heart Association. The study in Taiwan upon which the findings were based involved over 23,000 people who had been diagnosed with TBI.

Motor vehicle accidents are a frequent cause of brain injuries and other serious injuries. Such injuries can also occur in slip and fall cases and other types of accidents.

If you have been in an accident that caused a head injury, it's important to have it checked out carefully. It's also important to keep monitoring your condition after the accident. This is because many of the symptoms of brain damage may be readily apparent.

Source: "Head Injury Bumps Up Sroke Risk," Medpage Today, 7-29-2011