March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and local health care professionals are stressing the need for rapid treatment when it comes to brain trauma caused by anything from simple accidental falls to stroke.
Statistics reveal that someone in the U.S. sustains a brain injury every nine seconds, with more than 3.6 million people suffering brain injuries each year.
There are two types of brain injuries: Acquired (such as stroke) or Traumatic (externally caused such as in falls or auto accidents), according to information compiled by the Brain Injury Association of America.
Either type of injury requires immediate medical care.
“People may think a bump on the head from a fall or motor vehicle accident will go away, but it can lead to dangerous swelling of the brain,” said Dr. Jason Black, medical director of Emergency Services at Abrazo West Campus.
He said that after these types of incidents, individuals may often delay seeking medical care because they feel the incident may not have caused injury to the brain. But delays in treatment can lead to serious consequences ranging from long-term disability to death.
“Symptoms of brain injuries are similar to the signs of stroke,” he said. “If you are having slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, numbness, or what you’d consider the worst headache of your life, these are all signs that you should get to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible.”
Stroke, which remains the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., is also considered a brain injury and should be treated as rapidly as possible, added Dr. Sushant Kale, Interventional Neurologist at Abrazo West Campus.
Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries leading to and inside the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts.
When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, and that part of the brain starts to die, Dr. Kale said.
“It’s important to recognize that a stroke is happening, because you can save a life, including your own,” he said. “The point to remember is that ‘time equals brain.’ A delay of even five or 10 minutes can make a big difference in a patient’s outcome. Every minute in delay to treatment leads to 2 million neurons dying.”
Advanced stroke centers like Abrazo West Campus are able to treat patients with ischemic strokes, large vessel occlusions, hemorrhagic strokes, or strokes from unusual causes that may require specialized testing or interventional therapies, as well as provide post-acute care.
“Abrazo West Campuscontinues to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke and trauma, and part of that effort is making sure our patients are receiving the appropriate care as quickly as possible,” said Abrazo West CEO Hans Driessnack. “When it comes to treating a traumatic brain injury or stroke, every second counts.”
For more information on services at Abrazo West Campus, visitAbrazoHealth.com.
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