March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

/by

Did you know that every year in the United States 2.6 million people suffer some type of brain injury? According to WebMD, “About 52,000 die as a result of traumatic brain injury, and more than 5 million Americans who’ve suffered traumatic brain injury require assistance in performing daily activities. Approximately 130,000 Americans die of stroke each year, according to the National Stroke Association… There are two types of brain injury: traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury. Both disrupt the brain’s normal functioning. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by an external force — such as a blow to the head — that causes the brain to move inside the skull or damages the skull. This in turn damages the brain. Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) occurs at the cellular level. It is most often associated with pressure on the brain. This could come from a tumor. Or it could result from neurological illness, as in the case of a stroke.

Both traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury occur after birth. And neither is degenerative. Sometimes, the two terms are used interchangeably. There is a kind of brain damage that results from genetics or birth trauma. It’s called congenital brain damage. It is not included, though, within the standard definition of brain damage or traumatic brain injury.” In the Granite State, the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire helps those who’ve suffered from brain injuries and advocates on their behalf. Brain injuries cause great suffering for the victims as well as their loved ones.

Kevin Dugan
Latest posts by Kevin Dugan (see all)