Aleece Jesse
Hour 5
Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic brain injury usually results from a hard blow to the head or body. It may also be caused by an object puncturing or shattering the skull. Bleeding, swelling, and blood clots in or around the brain can disrupt the supply of oxygen the person is getting. Some symptoms include: loss of consciousness for any amount of time, headache, vomiting, lack of sleep or sleeping more than usual, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, memory problems, mood swings, loss of coordination, slurred speech, coma, or death. The symptoms for children are different due to their lack of communication skills. Some symptoms include: change in eating habits, persistent crying, easily irritable, changes in sleep habits, sad or depressed mood, or loss of interest in their favorite toys/activities. Damage in the brain occurs when the head gets whipped back and forth or from side to side. This causes the brain to smash into the skull. When the brain hits the skull it can bruise brain tissue and tear blood vessels. Most often the frontal and temporal lobes are damaged; this damage is usually detected through an MRI or CAT scan. Damage to the brain can also injure neuronal axons. These axons link parts of the brain to each other. When these axons get injured it interrupts how the brain regions communicate with one another. Most people with traumatic brain injury are unable to recall what happened. Nerves cannot repair themselves and you can’t grow new nerves. Certain areas of the brain may remain damaged, and their functions may end up being a challenge in the person’s life. Common causes of traumatic brain injury include: falls, vehicle-related collisions, violence such as gunshot wounds, child abuse, shaken baby syndrome, sports-related injuries, explosive blasts, and other combat injuries. People who are at the most risk for traumatic brain injury are children, especially newborn to age four, young adults ages 15-24, and adults older than 75. Traumatic brain injury can result in permanent or prolonged changes in a person’s state of consciousness, awareness, and responsiveness. A person may go into a coma or a vegetative state. A vegetative state is when a person is not aware of their surroundings but they may respond to reflexes and open their eyes. A person may also be in locked-in syndrome. This is when the person is aware of their surroundings but cannot speak or move. Brain death may also occur. This is when there is no activity in the brain that can be measured. Brain death is considered irreversible. People may develop paralysis of their facial muscles, loss of vision, swallowing problems, cognitive problems with learning, memory, and reasoning, they have a problem with decision making, they may have difficulty understanding speech or writing, difficulty in speaking or writing, inability to use the muscles that are needed to form words, risky behavior, difficulty in social situations, verbal or physical outbursts, depression, anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, trouble with balance, and impaired hand-eye coordination. Diuretics are given intravenously to people who have traumatic brain