Causes Of Brain Injury
There are two different kinds of brain injury: traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury. While the two may have similar symptoms and long-term effects, the causes of traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury vary significantly.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
Just like it sounds, traumatic brain injury is caused by trauma to the brain. This can result from a blow to the head, the head striking an object, an object penetrating the skull and entering brain tissue, or the shearing or tearing of brain tissue resulting from rapid deceleration or acceleration.
Accidents involving motor vehicles, ATVs, motorcycles, and bicycles are the leading cause of brain injury, causing 50 percent of all of them. SUV rollovers involving roof crush, seatbelt and seatback failures, airbag malfunction, tire blowouts, and driver error are some of the leading causes of accidents that cause brain injury in both passengers and drivers. In addition, ATVs and motorcycles that are not being operated safely, are being operated by underage or inexperienced drivers, or those that have been recalled by the manufacturer are also frequently involved in the types of accidents that cause head injury. While some accidents are not possible to control, you can cut down on your risk of head injury by buying a car with a good “crashworthiness” rating, making sure that your car is always in good repair, replacing worn tires, and practicing good driver safety. In addition, ATVs should never be driven by children. Because some ATVs and motorcycles have a track record of poor safety, it’s important that you do your homework before you make your purchase.
So what accounts for the other 50 percent of traumatic brain injuries? Falls account for approximately 25 percent of all brain injuries, while violence accounts for another 20 percent. Sports-related injuries, especially those associated with contact sports like hockey, football, lacrosse, and rugby, account for the remaining cases of brain injury.
Causes of Acquired Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury is any type of brain injury that has occurred after birth.
Asphyxia is one of the leading causes of acquired brain injury. Asphyxia occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen. This lack of oxygen causes brain cells to die, resulting in damage. As a general rule of thumb, a person who is not breathing anywhere from three to nine minutes will most likely experience some degree of acquired brain injury.
The most common causes of asphyxia are near drowning and choking. While anyone can experience these events, young children are particularly susceptible. The risk of acquired brain injury can be reduced by practicing good swimming pool and water safety, and by making sure that young children are not exposed to choking hazards. Manufacturers are not allowed to include removable parts less than 1.25 inches on toys geared for those under the age of three. However, it’s a good idea for parents to keep up with toy recalls. The Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes an online list of all toys that have been recalled since 1975, which can be accessed at www.cpsc.gov.
Other causes of acquired brain injury include excessive blood loss, injuries in which the chest has been crushed, certain illnesses and diseases, stroke and heart attack, electrical shock or lightening strike, and exposure to toxic materials.