Welcome to another special blog for worldwide Brain Injury Awareness month!

This is a special month recognized worldwide. It’s been created as an opportunity to raise awareness, share knowledge, and educate about brain health and brain injuries. 

If you missed our previous blog about why a TBI brain likes routines and how routines can support TBI recovery, I encourage you to check it out!

For now, let me give you the low-down on head injuries - what they are, how they can occur, warning signs, and the best natural treatments.

Here is your complete guide to head injuries!

Head Injury Statistics

You may not realize this, but head injuries are becoming more and more prevalent in today’s world. 

In Canada, about 456 people sustain a head injury every day. That equates to one person injured every 3 minutes!

In the United States, there are approximately 2 million emergency room visits each year with people who suffered a head injury.

In addition, hundreds of thousands of head injuries go unreported each year. You may wonder how or why that is. 

Many people don’t report a head injury because they lack basic education about head injuries and don’t know the warning signs. This is particularly true if a person underwent an injury but did not lose consciousness. In fact, many of these injuries may even go unnoticed. Because of that, they are never treated. 

Is this a problem? Yes! 

Even mild or moderate head injuries can significantly decrease a person’s brain function. This can have far-reaching impacts on a person’s life and long-term health.

So let me ask you a question… have you ever had a head injury?

Your first response was probably “no.” 

But let me ask you this: have you ever…

• Played football, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, rugby or basketball?

• Fallen down the stairs, off a ladder, or out of a tree, even as a child?

• Been kicked off a horse?

• Taken a tumble when on your bike, skateboard, or motorcycle?

• Crashed while skiing or snowboarding?

• Been in a fender bender or motor vehicle accident?

• Been hit directly in the head by an object?

• Been physically assaulted?

• Blacked out, lost time, or seen stars for a few seconds?

• Felt dazed or confused for a minute?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you have likely sustained a head injury. 

Let that sink in for a moment. 

Many people legitimately forget that they’ve ever had a head injury or trauma. Even if they are asked repeatedly if they’ve ever experienced head trauma, most people don’t think they have. 

A fall or crash may have seemed insignificant at the time. Perhaps you were fully conscious afterward and felt fine. In either case, you may have shrugged it off and carried on - possibly nursing a headache for a day or two.

What is a Head Injury?

Is there a difference between a head injury and a brain injury?

According to John Hopkins, “A head injury is a broad term that describes a vast array of injuries that occur to the scalp, skull, brain, and underlying tissue and blood vessels in the head. Head injuries are also commonly referred to as brain injury, or traumatic brain injury (TBI), depending on the extent of the head trauma.”

So, the bottom line, the terms head injury, brain injury, and head trauma can all be used interchangeably. Of course, there are varying degrees of severity and long-term consequences.

There are two types of acquired brain injuries (ABI): traumatic and non-traumatic. Both types are sustained (or “acquired”) after birth but did not result from a hereditary, congenital, or degenerative condition. In general, an ABI or acquired brain injury is the umbrella term used for all brain injuries.

It’s said that either type of ABI happens when changes to the brain’s neuronal activity occur. These changes affect the physical integrity, metabolic activity, or functional ability of nerve cells in the brain. In other words, an ABI alters brain function.

A traumatic brain injury, one type of ABI, is typically caused by an external force. It is often the result of a fall, accident, motor vehicle collision, assault, or sports injury. It can either be closed (non-penetrating) or open (penetrating).

On the other hand, a non-traumatic brain injury (often referred to as an NTBI) results from brain damage caused by internal factors or an internal force. These factors can include a lack of oxygen, toxic exposure, or pressure from a tumour.

Examples of NTBIs include a stroke, an aneurism, a near-drowning experience, a tumour, an infectious disease, and a heart attack (which stops oxygen flow to the brain).

Science Fact: It’s important to note that many harmful biological events are associated with head injuries. Some of the most profound include damage to the DNA, BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) dysfunction, and a disruption of the fatty membranes that surround neurons. Oxidative damage (an overproduction of chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen) can trigger any of these biological events - whether you have had a mild, moderate, or severe TBI. 

Warning Signs of a Head Injury

Based on the damage that occurs in the brain upon impact and how quickly these biological events make themselves known, symptoms can appear instantly or be delayed. 

When a person exhibits symptoms immediately upon injury, it’s much easier to recognize these injuries. People also often receive treatment for them right away.

However, in some cases, symptoms don’t develop until days, weeks, or even months later! This can make the connection between the injury and symptoms much harder. In fact, the injury or underlying cause of the symptoms is often forgotten.

So what are the warning signs that you or someone you know may have sustained a head injury?

The symptoms are too numerous and individualized to mention here; however, we’ll do our best to list some of the most common warning signs. To help, we’ll divide symptoms into three categories: physical, cognitive, and social (or psychosocial).

Physical complaints can include dizziness, vertigo, headache, nausea, fatigue, visual disturbances, difficulty sleeping, light or sound sensitivity, and poor balance.

Cognitive changes can include confusion or disorientation, poor concentration, an inability to focus, brain fog (or neurofatigue), memory issues, learning problems, poor judgement, impulsiveness, difficulty following conversations, difficulty finding words, and difficulty putting thoughts into words.

Psychosocial concerns can include irritability, depression, anxious thoughts, moodiness, apathy, angry outbursts, social isolation, and personality changes.

As you can see, there are many warning signs that someone has sustained a head injury. If you are around a person exhibiting a few (or more) of these symptoms and may have recently received a blow to the head or experienced a fall, encourage them to seek support. 

Ignoring warning signs and trying to manage on your own with any brain injury can end up making symptoms worse and prolonging recovery.

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Best Natural Treatments for a Head Injury 

Speaking of recovery, what natural things can you do to support recovery?

Whether you sustained a major or minor hit to the head, the following natural treatments can help restore cognitive function and support recovery.

Drink plenty of water

Your brain is 80% water, so keeping it hydrated is essential for proper healing. If you don’t drink enough water, you can slow the healing process and prevent your system from effectively flushing out unwanted waste products or toxins. A build-up of these waste products can tax your liver and kidney and amplify symptoms. 

Support your immune system

Your immune system is designed to support the healing process. In fact, any type of healing, including recovery from a head injury depends on healthy immune cells. You can support your immune system by eating and taking ample antioxidants like vitamin C daily. Antioxidants help combat oxidative damage. This is important because, as mentioned earlier, oxidative stress is one of the main pathogenic mechanisms implicated in traumatic brain injury.

Rest up

One of the most important suggestions to support recovery is rest! It may be a challenge, but taking the time to rest and recharge your depleted batteries is critical for recovery. Stop any actives you were doing pre-injury that could potentially cause another brain injury, and give yourself the time it takes to heal. This can vary significantly from person to person. So listen to the cues your brain and body provide, and do not try to rush things or push yourself. Trying to do too much too fast can prolong recovery and amplify symptoms. 

Eat the right foods

Of course, proper neuronutrition is essential to support healing and optimal cognitive function. Your post-injury diet should include ample leafy greens, a variety of fresh and colourful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, raw nuts and seeds, and healthy omega 3 fatty acids found in wild fish and olive oil. To help with meal planning or figure out what you should eat to support recovery, check out our brain-healthy or anti-inflammatory recipes e-book. If you prefer, contact us for more individualized recommendations. 

Add in targeted supplements 

Because of your brain’s greater need for nutrients, brain-directed supplements and vitamins can help kick-start recovery. Fundamental to every regimen should be a potent multivitamin/multi-mineral, vitamin D3, and high-quality omega 3 fish oil supplement. Additional antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and curcumin can also help.

Summary

Head injuries are no joke. They can happen to anyone at any time - often when you least expect it.

Warning signs you sustained a head injury vary greatly. Still, there are several commonalities, including various physical, cognitive and social symptoms. Luckily, many natural treatments can support recovery. 

Eat well, take the time to recuperate, drink ample water, and take brain-targeted supplements to support recovery.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and value your feedback. Let me know what you think by dropping me a line or commenting below.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to receive my newsletters for more information about brain health, neuronutrition, lifestyle tips, and nutritional advice. Of course, if I can help you or a loved one with your TBI recovery, make an appointment to see me today!

[Medical Disclaimer]

Please consult with your doctor(s) before starting any new mental or physical health improvement program. The advice I offer is not intended to replace that of your medical practitioner. I am not a medical professional, nor am I qualified to diagnose, cure treat, or prevent disease. The advice I provide on this website is intended for a broad and diverse audience, and as such, deals with general lifestyle concepts, not specific healthcare advice. This material disclaims any liability or loss in connection with the advice expressed herein.