Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a traumatic injury occurs to the brain.  Traumatic brain injury typically results from a jolt or violent blow to the head that causes the brain to collide with the inside of the skull.  Moderate TBI symptoms can include: dizziness or loss of balance, loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes, sensitivity to light and sound and sleeping more than usual.  Where as moderate to severe TBI can have symptoms of profound confusion, slurred speech, loss of coordination, convulsions or seizures and repeat nausea or vomiting.  The three top causes of TBI are car accidents, firearms and falls.  Teenager and elderly are at highest risk of TBI.  In the US more than 5.3 million people live with disabilities caused by TBI.  Brain injuries do not heal like other injuries and although similar there is not one brain injury that is exact to another.  Symptoms of TBI can appear immediately while some may appear day to weeks after injury.  Types of TBI can be open head injury, closed head injury, chemical/toxic, hypoxia, tumors, infections and stroke.  Altered consciousness, seizures, infection, nerve damage, cognitive problems, behavioral changes, emotional problems, sensory problems and degenerative brain diseases can all be complication that are associated with the risk of TBI. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, although not currently approved for TBI is currently going under studies to see if 100% pure oxygen will aid in the recovery of TBI.