| A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs
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| | syndrome. Severe brain injuries cause
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| when a sudden trauma causes damage to the
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| | loss of consciousness for days, weeks, or
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| brain. A TBI can occur when the head
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| | months. Impairment may be permanent.
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| suddenly and violently hits an object or
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| | Anyone showing signs of TBI should seek
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| when an object pierces the skull. TBI's
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| | medical attention immediately. Because
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| can be mild or severe, and the symptoms
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| | little can be done to reverse the initial
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| of TBI vary depending on the severity of
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| | brain damage caused by head trauma,
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| the injury. Some TBI symptoms include,
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| | medical professionals will try to
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| but are not limited to, headache,
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| | stabilize an individual with TBI and
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| lightheadedness, confusion, blurred
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| | focus on preventing further injury.
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| vision, dizziness, ringing in the ears,
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| | Primary concerns typically involve
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| nausea, lethargy, disturbed sleep
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| | insuring proper oxygen supply to the
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| patterns, and trouble with memory,
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| | brain, maintaining blood flow and
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| concentration, and cognitive functioning.
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| | controlling blood pressure.
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| Severity of TBI's
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| | Common Causes of TBI
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| If you have suffered a brain injury, it
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| | Most TBI's are caused by motor vehicle
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| is important to understand that the
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| | crashes, crashes involving off-road
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| rating of the severity of your injury
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| | vehicles, such as ATV's, falls and jumps,
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| refers only to the initial, not the
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| | and being struck by another person or an
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| long-term, damage. Even a "mild" brain
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| | object. Explosive blast injuries
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| injury can have serious long-term
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| | sustained in combat are an emerging cause
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| consequences.
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| | of traumatic brain injury, and TBI has
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| • Mild brain injury - A mild brain
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| | been named the "signature wound" of the
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| injury causes a brief loss of
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| | war in Iraq. It has been estimated that
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| consciousness, lasting no more than a few
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| | 20% of infantry troops and 10% of all
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| minutes, or no loss of consciousness at
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| | American troops have suffered a traumatic
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| all. Immediately afterwards, the victim
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| | brain injury
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| is dazed and/or confused.
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| | Approximately one-half of all TBI
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| • Moderate brain injury - Loss of
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| | patients will need surgery to repair
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| consciousness lasts several minutes to
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| | ruptured blood vessels or bruised brain
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| several hours. Confusion can last for
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| | tissue. Some common disabilities suffered
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| weeks or months. Impairment may last for
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| | after a TBI are problems with cognition,
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| several months or can be permanent.
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| | sensory processing, communication, and
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| • Severe brain injury - Loss of
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| | mental health/behavior. More serious head
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| consciousness lasts for days, weeks, or
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| | injuries may result in an unresponsive
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| months. Severe brain injury can result in
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| | state; a coma; a vegetative state; or a
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| a coma, vegetative state, or "locked-in"
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| | persistent vegetative state.
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