Why Are Brain Injuries Often Life-Threatening?

A brain injury can completely change your life. You may have to adjust to a new normal—which means you may not be able to return to your job or participate in activities and hobbies you did before the injury. Many traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are also life-threatening. Why is this? Let’s take a look at how serious injuries to the brain can be.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury occurs when an external force impacts the brain and the brain’s functions are affected. The head can suffer a blow or bump or a foreign object can go through the skull and injure the brain. These severe injuries can likely cause permanent health problems or death.

• Skull Fractures. When the skull cracks, bone fragments may cut the brain or enter it. If another object cracked the skull, then it can also enter the brain.
• Contusions. This is a brain bruise, where the brain swells and mixes with blood that’s from broken blood vessels. Car accidents can cause contusions.
• Intracranial Hematoma. This happens when there’s bleeding due to a damaged major blood vessel.
• Anoxia. When the brain suffers from lack of oxygen, it’s called anoxia. The brain tissue is damaged.

These injuries are life-threatening because they’re affecting a major organ and often need immediate and speedy medical attention. If you’ve suffered from a TBI, it may be because of someone else’s negligence.

How Do You Know If You Have a TBI?

After a head injury, you may not know if you have a traumatic brain injury. There are a few symptoms that can indicate that something is wrong and you need to seek medical treatment. Recognizing the symptoms will help you know that you need to get to the doctor as soon as possible. Ignoring or not knowing the symptoms could lead to serious health problems. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) lists the following:

• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Having a hard time waking up
• Double vision or unequal pupil dilation
• Drainage of clear fluids from nose or ears
• Nausea
• Slurred speech, weakness in arms, legs, and face
• Loss of balance

There are some additional symptoms that you may have that you should pay attention to:

• Feeling confused or disoriented
• Headaches
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Having memory or concentration issues
• Sensory issues
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Mood swings
• Feeling anxious or depressed
• Lack of energy, lethargic
• Disrupted sleep pattern

There are also mild forms of TBI, such as concussions. People can suffer from concussions when the head is bumped or moved rapidly back and forth. The leading causes of concussions include:

• Falls
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Being hit by an obstacle
• Assaults
• Sports

While people can fully recover from a concussion, there is a chance of symptoms lasting for a long time. You still need to see a doctor to treat your concussion.

When you feel that something is off, it’s vital to see a medical professional. They’ll be able to diagnose your symptoms and start you on treatment to help you get better. Do not allow symptoms to continue in the hopes that they will go away on their own. You’re experiencing them because something is wrong.

Bey & Associates Is Here to Help You

You need a reliable lawyer who will make sure your rights are protected no matter what. You can have peace of mind that your best interests are being represented. While someone’s negligence caused this severe injury to occur, you can rest assured that your lawyer will seek a favorable settlement for the damages that you’ve suffered. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.