More traumatic brain injuries sustained in spring

Warmer weather usually means people spend more time outside. Hiking, boating, playing sports and traveling to vacation destinations means people are exposed to potential risky activities and experts say because of that, they tend to see more traumatic brain injuries reported in the spring. Brain injuries can range from a mild concussion to severe trauma, […]

Warmer weather usually means people spend more time outside.

Hiking, boating, playing sports and traveling to vacation destinations means people are exposed to potential risky activities and experts say because of that, they tend to see more traumatic brain injuries reported in the spring.

Brain injuries can range from a mild concussion to severe trauma, but following a blow to the head, a traumatic brain injury can lead to life-long physical and mental issues.

Dr. Gerald York, a neuroradiologist at Imaging Associates, monitors patients and looks at what’s known as white matter in the brain, an article on the KTUU website reads.

Activities such as skateboarding, contact sports, water skiing, swimming and roller skating puts individuals — especially young children — at risk of traumatic brain injury. York says in the article that the best way to prevent TBI is to wear a helmet, especially during sports or while riding a bicycle or motorcycle.

“While 80 percent of head injuries are mild, Dr. York said there are some tell-tale symptoms, when people should see a physician,” the article reads.

Some symptoms to look out for include dizziness, nausea, headaches, trouble with eyesight or speech, or unconsciousness.

According to the Mayo Clinic, mild traumatic brain injury may cause temporary dysfunction of brain cells. More serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain that can result in long-term complications or even death.

Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later.

“If they have persistent headaches, they have dizziness-nausea, [or] they have severe worsening headaches – those are the patients we want to get in to see a provider and do imaging,” York said in the article. “Other symptoms can include a loss of consciousness, memory loss and difficulty processing or performing daily functions.”