Brain damage is an injury that causes the destruction or deterioration of brain cells. In the U.S., every year, about 1.5 million people have some type of brain injury. And approximately 5.3 million people suffer from the effects of brain damage. About 50,000 die as a result of brain injury. Medical costs and lost productivity are estimated at between $48 billion and $60 billion per year. All traumatic brain injuries are head injuries. But head injury is not necessarily brain injury. There are two types of brain injury: traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury. Both disrupt the brains normal functioning. 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. Some brain injuries cause focal -- or localized -- brain damage, such as the damage caused when a bullet enters the brain. In other words, the damage is confined to a small area. Closed head injuries frequently cause diffuse brain damage, which … Continue reading →

Brain injuries can happen to anyone and from nearly any type of accident. Even though symptoms may not appear immediately, immediate treatment is critical for brain injuries. LOS ANGELES, CA, November 08, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In 2009, actress Natasha Richardson fell during a beginner skiing lesson. At first, she did not seem to be seriously hurt. She talked and made jokes before returning to her hotel room. There, however, she complained of head pain and was taken to a hospital. Richardson later died of an epidural hematoma, a brain injury that happens when the arteries tear after the skull is struck hard, resulting in bleeding. Richardson's tragic story illustrates two important points about brain injuries. First, brain injuries can happen to anyone and from nearly any type of accident. Second, even though symptoms may not appear immediately, immediate treatment is critical for brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) happen when a blow to the head or a penetrating injury disrupts normal brain activity. They are common - about 3.5 million people suffered from a TBI in 2009, though most were concussions. TBIs contribute to nearly one-third of all injury-related deaths in this country. Causes Of Brain Injuries The cause of … Continue reading →