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Head Injury News
Related terms: Traumatic Brain Injury, Brain Injury, TBI
Severe Headaches Plague Vets With Traumatic Brain Injuries
Posted 5 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 – U.S. veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injuries may struggle with severe headaches years later, a new study finds. The study included 172 vets who served in Afghanistan or Iraq between 2 and 11 years before the study began. Half suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during deployment; half did not. A TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function. Besides headache, it can lead to post-traumatic stress, depression and sleep disorders, as well as problems with thinking and muscle control, the researchers explained. The researchers assessed the number of vets with the worst headaches, which were described as "disabling" or "severe." A disabling headache was one so bad the veteran stopped all activity and was bedridden. A severe headache meant the vet could do only the most essential tasks; activity decreased by 50 ... Read more
Related support groups: Headache, Head Injury, New Daily Persistent Headache, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
Many Chronic Illnesses Linked to Suicide Risk
Posted 6 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 – People with chronic health problems seem to have a higher risk of suicide, a new study suggests. And, for certain conditions – such as traumatic brain injury – the risk is much higher, the study authors said. Researchers looked at nearly 2,700 people in the United States who died by suicide between 2000 and 2013. The investigators identified 17 medical conditions linked to increased odds of suicide. These included: asthma, back pain, brain injury, cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disorder, migraine, Parkinson's disease, psychogenic pain, sleep disorders and stroke. While all of these conditions were associated with increased suicide risk, the connection was much stronger for some. For example, the risk was nine times higher among people with a ... Read more
Related support groups: Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Head Injury, Dysthymia, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
Guns Kill or Wound 7,000 U.S. Kids a Year: Report
Posted 7 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 19, 2017 – Each year in America, nearly 1,300 children die from guns, with boys and blacks struck down most often, federal health officials report. More than half of these deaths are homicides, 38 percent are suicides and 6 percent are unintentional, according to Katherine Fowler, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues. Plus, almost 6,000 kids are wounded by guns each year, the researchers said. "Pediatric firearm injuries and deaths are an important public health problem in the United States, contributing substantially each year to premature death, illness and disability of children," said Fowler, of the CDC's division of violence prevention. Based on 2002-2014 data, gun-related violence is the third leading cause of death for kids aged 1 to 17. And gun killings lag only behind car crashes in terms of injury-related deaths, the study ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Agitated State, Wound Infection
Helmets for Motorcyclists a No Brainer: Study
Posted 9 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 – Riding a motorcycle without a helmet may conjure up images of a cool rider with the wind blowing through his hair. The reality? A fractured skull, and a bruised and battered face – or worse – are much more likely if a crash occurs. Since Michigan eased its helmet laws, the number of skull fractures and other head and facial injuries related to motorcycle accidents has doubled, a new study finds. Michigan repealed its universal motorcycle helmet law in 2012. The new law allows riders to go without helmets if they meet criteria for age (over 21), training/experience and insurance coverage. Researchers reviewed motorcyclist injury data for three years before and three years after the change in helmet laws. The study included a total of nearly 4,700 motorcycle trauma patients. They were seen at 29 Michigan trauma centers. The proportion of motorcycle trauma ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
Health Tip: Inspect Your Child's Playground
Posted 12 days ago by Drugs.com
-- While playground safety has come a long way in the past few decades, there are still many potential hazards. Here's what to watch for, courtesy of the U.S. National Safety Council: Ground surfaces that don't offer enough protection. Any playground should have at least 12 inches of mulch, wood chips, pea gravel, sand or rubber below the equipment. At least six feet of protective area surrounding the swings and slides, etc., in case a child falls. Any sharp edges that could hurt a child, such as on hooks or rungs. Openings through which a child's head could fit. Swings that are too close to other equipment. Poorly-maintained equipment. Equipment should include guard rails to help prevent falls. Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness, Prevention of Fractures
Health Tip: Teach Teens About Dangerous Driving Habits
Posted 13 days ago by Drugs.com
-- Distractions abound for people behind the wheel, especially for teens who recently started driving. Safe Kids Worldwide says parents should encourage teens to avoid these dangerous habits: Not using a seat belt. Texting and driving. Having more than one friend in the car. Driving under the influence of alcohol. Driving at night. Driving too fast. Read more
Related support groups: Alcohol Dependence, Head Injury, Alcoholism, Hangover, Acute Alcohol Intoxication, Prevention of Fractures
Boys More Likely to Hide a Concussion Than Girls
Posted 16 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 – When it comes to reporting a sports-related concussion, high school boys are less likely to speak up than high school girls, new research reveals. The findings, derived from surveying nearly 300 young Michigan athletes, highlight a "show-no-weakness" mentality that experts say needs to change to protect brain health. "Males are more worried about what their peers or coaches would think of them if they reported [their concussion]," said study author Jessica Wallace. She's director of the master of athletic training program at Youngstown State University in Ohio. "It's a mentality of, 'If I report this, I'm going to be perceived as weak,' " said Wallace, who's also a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. "We suspected some differences between males and females at the high school level, but were probably surprised by the magnitude." More than ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
Teen Boys Treated for Assault Often Want Mental Health Care, Too
Posted 19 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 – Many teen boys treated at an ER following a violent assault also want psychological services to help them cope with the trauma, according to new research. "Assault victims describe feeling constantly tense and 'on guard,' and having nightmares or unwanted flashbacks of the assault. Unfortunately, many youth also begin to avoid talking about the event or avoiding the places or people that remind them of the assault – school, friends, normal adolescent activities," said study author Rachel Myers, a research scientist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "It shows us that just treating the external wounds is not enough. Young men not only need, but want, help to cope with their fears and difficult emotions in the aftermath of injury," Myers said in a hospital news release. The study included 49 teenage boys between the ages of 12 and 17. All were treated at ... Read more
Related support groups: Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Agitation, Head Injury
The Cost of Bike Crashes in U.S. Tops $24 Billion a Year
Posted 2 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 – Bicycling may be good for your health and the environment, but new research finds adult bike crashes cost more than $24 billion a year in the United States. And the costs have been steadily rising by about $789 million per year, the study showed. The $24 billion annual figure is roughly twice the medical and indirect costs of workplace injuries, according to study authors Dr. Benjamin Breyer and Dr. Timothy Gaither, from the University of California, San Francisco. They analyzed data on fatal and nonfatal bicycle crashes among adults in the United States between 1999 and 2013. During that time, almost 10,000 people died in bicycle crash-related deaths. The researchers also found that hospital admissions caused by bike crashes rose 120 percent and there were 3.8 million nonfatal adult cycle injuries during that time. The researchers said there are a number of ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Prevention of Fractures
New Teen Drivers Face Triple the Risk of a Fatal Crash
Posted 1 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 – Newly minted teen drivers in the United States have almost triple the risk of being involved in a deadly crash than adults, a new study finds. The study looked at national data, and also found that drivers aged 16 to 17 are almost 4 times more likely than drivers aged 18 and older to be involved in a crash. Compared to drivers aged 30 to 59 years old, new teen drivers are 4.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash, and more than three times as likely to be in a fatal collision. The findings were released at the start of the "100 Deadliest Days." That's the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During that time, the average number of deadly crashes involving teen drivers is 15 percent higher compared to the rest of the year, the study authors said. Over the past five years, more than 1,600 people were killed in crashes involving inexperienced teen ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Prevention of Fractures
Lawn Mowers Are Risky Business for Kids
Posted 29 May 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 29, 2017 – Though mowing lawns has long been a source of income for young people, experts warn that lawn mowers pose a major safety risk to children. "We need to remind people that these are dangerous machines, and the consequences are devastating," Mariano Garay, a fourth year medical student at Penn State College of Medicine, said in a school news release. Garay has studied lawn mower injuries in children. About 13,000 children were treated for lawn mower injuries in U.S. emergency departments in 2015, researchers said. And, kids aren't the only ones at risk from lawn mowers. More than 68,000 adults ended up in the ER that year because of the machines. A study of nearly 200 patients 18 and younger found that more than half of those admitted to a hospital with injuries from lawn mowers underwent an amputation, usually in the lower extremities. "The blade is so sharp and it ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Prevention of Fractures
Health Tip: Is Your Backyard Safe?
Posted 26 May 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Want to make playtime safer for your children? Look no further than your own backyard. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions: Keep outdoor stairways clear, and install handrails on both sides. All walkways, porches and stairs should be well lit. Always watch children playing in the backyard. Keep your yard free of tall grass, litter and brush to discourage animal nests. If you have a septic tank, keep it well maintained to protect your family from illness. If your household drinking water source is a well, test it often. Read more
Related support groups: Infections, Head Injury, Prevention of Fractures
1 in 5 U.S. Kids Killed in Crashes Not Restrained Properly
Posted 24 May 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, May 24, 2017 – If parents need more proof that car seats and seat belts save young lives, researchers now report that one in every five children killed in car crashes in the United States was unrestrained or improperly restrained. The analysis involved nationwide data on nearly 2,900 traffic crash deaths involving children under the age of 15 between 2010 and 2014. It found that 13 percent of crash victims were inappropriately placed in the front seat. The research team, from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and Harvard Medical School, "hypothesized that state-level policies related to child traffic safety would be associated with state mortality rates." And while the study found that the national crash death rate was 0.94 per 100,000 children a year, there were significant regional differences, the researchers noted in a UT Southwestern news release. The South had ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Prevention of Fractures
Too Many Parents Say No to Helmets for Kids on Wheels
Posted 10 May 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, May 10, 2017 – Injuries from cycling or other wheeled activities send over 400,000 kids to U.S. emergency rooms each year. Yet, many parents don't require their children to wear helmets or other safety gear, researchers say. Among 1,600 parents surveyed, about 40 percent said their child doesn't always wear a helmet when skateboarding, skating, scootering or biking, according to the report. The survey was conducted by SafeKids Worldwide and Nationwide Insurance Co.'s Make Safe Happen program. Research shows that helmets and other protective gear are the best way to prevent injuries while riding. But these findings suggest that more work is needed to get children to use safety equipment, the researchers said. "We know that kids follow their parents' lead, and if they see their parents wearing their helmets, it's much more likely they'll do so as well," said Torine Creppy, ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness, Prevention of Fractures
Health Tip: Be a Safe Driver for Your Kids
Posted 5 May 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Strapping your child in an appropriate car seat protects against injuries, but it's just as important for a parent to drive safely. Here are guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Use a seatbelt any time you drive or ride in a car. Never drive if you have been drinking alcohol or using drugs. Do not text while driving. Always follow the speed limit. Maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you. Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Fracture, bone, Prevention of Fractures
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Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Central Nervous System Disorders
