Emergency Services: Concussions and Trauma
A concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain caused by a jolt, bump or blows to the head. The sudden movement in the head causes the brain in the skull to bounce back or twist. Trauma is the emotional response due to an accident or blows to the head.
Concussions lead to the stretching of brain cells resulting in their damage. The effects of concussions can last for shorter days or even for a lifetime. Trauma can lead to several effects like:
• Impaired memory or thinking
• Impaired vision or hearing
• Poor emotional functioning
With such effects at stake, the condition requires proper and timely medication. However, we need to explore the other major causes of concussions and traumatic injuries.
Causes of Concussions and Trauma
Several instances can lead to injuries to the brain cells. According to FrontLine ER , the following are the leading causes of traumatic injuries and concussions.
Falls
Falls are the leading causes of trauma and brain injury.
Blows and fights
Another major cause is fights and blows. When struck by objects in the head, the object may stretch brain cells leading to trauma. This can be fatal in young children who have weaker skulls that protect the brain cells. Similar injuries can be as a resulting of being hit with falling debris or being struck unintentionally by another person.
Accidents
Motor vehicle crashes and other traffic-related incidents are a major cause of trauma. Many people involved in accidents suffer head damages which end up affecting the brain system. The damage can have a longtime effect on the brain cells which may lead to a prolonged brain trauma.
According to FrontLine ER, an injury to the brain or any form of concussion makes it hard for one to think clearly or even remember other important information. Moreover, it can lead to some physical problems, headaches, dizziness, vision impairment, sleeping problems among others. Dealing with these symptoms without further delay is a big step towards recovery. Below are some of the common symptoms and how to address them:
Emotional and Behavior Change
Some patients experience significant behavioral and emotional changes depending on the affected part of the brain. The frontal lobe of the brain, for instance, manages personality and impulsivity. If damaged, there is a poor braking mechanism for self-control. This may make a person have a hard time managing their anger or aggression. Similarly, their personality can become muted leading to a condition known as “flat effect.”
Other behavioral and emotional changes include:
• Physical and verbal outbursts
• Disinhibition and poor judgment
• Impulsive behavior
• Intolerance
• Apathy
• Negativity
Similarly, people with trauma experience mental swings. These people are always can always be hard to control since the condition changes the way people feel or express emotions.
Physical Symptoms
A trauma causes brain injury which can lead to physical symptoms which may need immediate medical attention. The physical symptoms may include:
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Loss or change of consciousness
• Swelling of scalp
• Ringing in the ears
• Inconsolable crying especially in infants
• Poor coordination
Diagnosis of Concussion and Trauma
When diagnosing concussions, a doctor checks for physical signs, mood symptoms, and thinking capability. The doctor will then try to determine if these are related to concussion or something else. A CT scan might be done to check for any internal bleeding, though the scans may not show cell injuries.
People suffering from concussion often experience cognitive problems after the brain injury. Cognition is the ability to know and thinking, involves the ability to understand, remember, choose and use information.
Additionally, cognition includes
• Memory
• Communication
• Attention and concentration
• Controlling impulses and being patient
People with concussions are unable to pay attention, focus or attend to more than one thing concurrently. The attention skill is, however, the building block of higher level skills implying that poor concentration or attention is an indicator of other cognitive problems.
Treatment and Care
There are several paths to recovery and treatment of concussions and trauma according to Frontlineer. Below are some of the common rehabilitations alongside some alternative treatment plans for such patients.
Rehabilitation Program
The program can be offered within hospitals or in a clinical setting. The process involves many different types of specialized and support services offered following an emergency and during the early phases of concussion and trauma. Rehabilitation involves medical methods such as:
• Speech therapy
• Cognitive therapy
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Neuropsychological testing
Alternative programs that can be rolled out are
• Biofield therapies
• Craniosacral therapy
• Hyperbaric oxygen treatment
• Meditation
During the rehabilitation process, a neurologist may conduct tests to determine whether the therapies worked out. The length of rehabilitation depends on the severity of a patient’s injury.
Nevertheless, there are measures can be taken to prevent concussions and trauma.
• Wearing seatbelts when in a car
• Wearing helmets and headgears during sporting activities
• Prevent the staircase fall by putting up handrails
• Installing grab bars in bathrooms and non-slip mats in bathrooms
• Installing windows safety guards to safeguard children from falling.
Concussion and trauma can be life-threatening to both adults and children; therefore proper treatment is necessary to help combat the situation. Contact FrontLine ER , for any concussion and trauma emergencies.
