Four things you need to know about brain injuries

The summer season means spending more time outside (safely!). Whether you’re walking, riding a bike or playing sports, taking the right precautions during these activities can help prevent a brain injury.

We spoke with Dr. Sanja Paleksic, Physiatrist at William Osler Health System, to learn more about brain injuries and how to prevent them.

Brain injuries can happen in different ways

A brain injury is essentially a disruption in brain function that can be caused by both big and small accidents. It can be caused by a traumatic accident such as a fall or a bump on the head or a non-traumatic accident such as a stroke.

Brain injuries are often preventable

Brain injury prevention is easy and important. Prevention is gold because recovery isn’t 100 per cent guaranteed.

Here are some tips to prevent a brain injury:

• Guard your head. When you’re participating in an activity that doesn’t require a helmet, the best way to protect your brain is by bringing your arms up to the side of your head.
• Wear a helmet when you’re at risk of falling at a quick speed, like when bike-riding, skateboarding or roller-skating
• Car accidents are a common cause of brain injury so remove any distractions you may have while driving
• Ensure there are no trip hazards or items laying on the floor to prevent falls

If you believe you’ve had a brain injury, seeking help immediately is key

Leaving a possible brain injury without treatment can lead to long lasting or permanent damage. After just one injury to the brain you become three times more likely to develop a severe brain injury the next time.

Some common signs of a brain injury could include: loss of consciousness, persistent or worsening headache (sometimes associated with nausea and vomiting), loss of vision or blurry/double vision, numbness in face or limbs, altered balance or increasing confusion. If you experience these, please contact your primary care provider.

Rehabilitation is essential for recovery

At the guidance of your care team, it is best to start the rehabilitation process as soon as possible. This will help prevent developing further complications and help move your recovery along. Rehabilitation often consists of two hours a day, working on daily living activities. Your rehabilitation will be designed based on your specific needs.

While going through rehabilitation, there are several recovery tips your care team may suggest while you recover. Some of these may be to:

• Avoid staring at computer screens, TV screens, being in loud places or listening to loud music (this can cause overstimulation)
• Ensure you get plenty of sleep and rest
• Avoid excessive exercise - your care team will let you know when you are ready to get back to your regular activities

The overall goal with rehabilitation is to get you back to living your life with as much normalcy as possible.