Brain Injury changes completely the lives of survivors and their families. The less unfortunate ones have to deal with headaches, dizzy spells, problems with speech and vision, memory lapses and loss of coordination. The others find themselves partially or completely paralyzed. A worrisome percentage finds themselves in a vegetative state. Untimely death is not uncommon. Till date there is no known cure for this. But, you can definitely learn to cope with it, manage it and win over it.
The first important thing to learn is, why this is so detrimental? Well, when you cut yourself, new skin generates over time. When you break your bones, they knit again over time. But when cranial cells and nerves are injured, they die and are not replaced. Thus, whatever function was associated with the affected nerve is also lost. So, when a person is suspected to have sustained this wound, doctors attempt to control the damage as much as possible. Delay leads to progressive death of the nerves and the damage becomes severe and irreversible.
Brain injuries have different effects depending upon which area was damaged. Rehabilitation is needed to support the damaged part and restore as much normal functioning to it as possible. If the survivor needs round the clock care and support, then it is advisable to hire a professional nurse or caregiver. They are trained and experienced and will be able to better handle the patient. The friends and family need to be very strong and supportive, because the victim will draw strength from them. Adjusting to such calamities is not just about physical changes, but also developing the appropriate attitude.
As is the case with almost everything else, Brain Injuries are better prevented. Take care to protect your head as much as possible. Educate children about the dangers that lurk in play grounds. Teens and youngsters should be especially careful, as they tend to be a bit reckless on the roads. Finally, if you face a blow to the head, do not wait for symptoms to develop but get yourself checked up immediately. Unequally dilated pupils, dizziness, headaches, slurred speech, blurred vision are some common symptoms, but they often develop sometime after the incident. Always remember, the sooner these conditions are attended to, the better will be your chances of escaping unscathed.
