CAREGIVING TLC

By Kie Copenhaver CSA, RHIA, SHSS, RCFE www.agingwellpartners.com

March is Brain Injury Awareness

Month so let’s talk about your brain.

The brain is approximately 3-4 pounds of soft tissue floating in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), surrounded by multiple layers of membranes that serve to protect and cover it. Beyond the membranes is the skull, the dense bony structure that protects our brains from the bumps, jolts, bangs and falls of everyday life. Brain injuries occur when we sustain an injury to the head; the severity of the injury will determine the level of brain injury sustained. Brain injuries can range from mild, such as a concussion sustained while playing in a sporting event, to moderate/severe which can result from a car accident, gunshot to the head or being near an explosion.

A brain injury occurs when a sudden jolt to the head causes the brain to hit against the inside of the skull, causing bruising of the brain tissue. Depending upon the outside forces causing the brain injury, the brain can actually rotate inside the skull causing tearing of tissues, blood vessels and nerves in addition to bruising. This severity of injury can cause what is known as a Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI. Most brain injuries are considered closed head injuries meaning the brain and supportive membranes were not exposed to the external world. An open head injury, on the other hand is when the injury is severe enough to cause the brain to be exposed to outside air and other elements.

The brain is essential to our survival. It can process up to 11 million bits of information per second. Don’t ask me to do the math for what that looks like over the course of a “normal” day but suffice to say, the brain does a lot of work, much of which we aren’t even aware. So, when the brain sustains even a minor injury, it can affect our whole being. Brain injuries result in changes to one’s physical, cognitive, and emotional/behavioral functioning and these changes can be temporary, in the case of a mild brain injury, to long-term, in the case of moderate to severe brain injury. People who have sustained a brain injury may experience a wide array of symptoms which can make diagnosing a brain injury difficult.

The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) has done in-depth research and study on brain and spinal cord injuries. Their website contains a plethora of information on brain injury issues such as alcohol and TBI, driving and TBI, voting tips for those with TBI, sleep and TBI plus many more. “Understanding TBI Factsheet” is a four-part series covering the following topics: What Happens During Injury & In Early Stages of Recovery, Brain Injury Impact on Individuals’ Functioning, The Recovery Process for Traumatic Brain Injury, and The Impact on Family & How They Can Help. These resources are for the patient AND the caregiver/spouse/ loved one and can help individuals and families navigate the TBI journey.

Check out www.msktc.org for more information and protect your brain - talk to your doctor if you think you have sustained a brain injury.