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Head Injury News
Related terms: Traumatic Brain Injury, Brain Injury, TBI
For Drivers, Hands-free Can Still Be a Handful
Posted 7 days ago by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Aug. 10, 2017 – With many states having laws about not using handheld cellphones while driving, it's no wonder that 75 percent of drivers think that hands-free technology is safe to use. But according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the complex voice-activated systems found in more and more new cars can distract you even more than talking on your cell. Done in conjunction with the University of Utah, the researchers looked at systems built into cars from six different automakers, with functions ranging from changing radio stations to posting messages on social media. Results showed that the more advanced the command – such as sending texts or posting to Facebook – the higher and potentially more dangerous the level of distraction. You might not think of texting as mentally challenging, but it can be, especially if you look down at your phone to see if the text was ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Prevention of Fractures
Study Tests Sound Waves to Monitor Pressure Inside the Skull
Posted 9 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Aug. 8, 2017 – A noninvasive method of monitoring pressure inside the skull – using sound waves – shows promise, researchers report. Brain disease or a head injury can cause brain tissue to swell, as well as an increase in the volume of fluid that surrounds and protects the brain. This can cause pressure within the skull to rise, and serious complications and even death can result. Continuous monitoring lets doctors know if and when they must take steps to lower the pressure. Currently, to monitor intracranial pressure, a hole is drilled into the skull and sensor-equipped catheters are inserted. This procedure carries risks such as bleeding, infection and damage to brain tissue, but no noninvasive ways to monitor pressure are available, the study authors said. German researchers tested an experimental noninvasive method on 14 patients and got encouraging results, according ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Diagnosis and Investigation, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Head Imaging, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
Teen Drivers Take More Chances as Senior Year Begins
Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2017 – Older teens are more likely to do risky things while driving and have a higher rate of crashes and near misses than their younger classmates, a new survey finds. Researchers surveyed 2,800 high school students across the United States. While 3 out of 4 seniors considered themselves safe drivers, they were more likely than younger teens to engage in dangerous or distracted driving – especially using cellphones while behind the wheel, the survey found. "Older teens are still inexperienced drivers – even if they feel otherwise – as they only have one to two years of real-world practice under their belts," said Mike Sample, lead driving safety expert and technical consultant at Liberty Mutual Insurance, a study sponsor. "That's why it is important to continue to emphasize the effects and potential consequences of phone use while driving to this age group," he ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Prevention of Fractures
Health Tip: Supervise Kids Near Cars
Posted 14 days ago by Drugs.com
-- Allowing kids to play unsupervised in a road or driveway is a recipe for injury. Safe Kids Worldwide says you can help prevent a tragedy by: Walking around your car before you leave to make sure there are no children playing nearby. Checking for toys, bikes or pets near your car, which could attract children. Holding the hands of small children when you're in a driveway, crossing the road or in a parking lot. Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Fracture, bone, Compression Fracture of Vertebral Column, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness, Prevention of Fractures
Combined MRI Might Help Predict Brain Damage in Boxers
Posted 14 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2017 – Brain injuries among pro football players are in the headlines, but pro fighters often suffer damaging head injuries, too. Now, research with boxers and mixed martial arts professionals suggests that combination MRI technology can help pinpoint which injuries might lead to brain damage. In the boxing ring, as on the football field, recurring blows to the head can cause mild traumatic brain injury. Over time, this can lead to progressive brain disorders like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and create problems with mood and movement. A study published this week found that 110 of 111 brains of deceased National Football League players whose brains were autopsied showed signs of CTE. Currently, the disease can only be diagnosed with an autopsy, but scientists are seeking to improve detection. Previous studies have focused on the brain cells in gray matter ... 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, Head Imaging
Know the Signs of Concussion
Posted 15 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2017 – Concussions have been in the news a lot because of health problems experienced by football players, but you don't have to be a professional athlete to suffer this injury. Youngsters are at risk, even if they don't play contact sports. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury – or mTBI – caused by a blow or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to shake, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Since it doesn't take a visible head-on collision to get a concussion, it's important to know the signs of injury. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, balance and vision issues, sensitivity to light or sound, sleep troubles, difficulty thinking, and even emotional issues. Crying for no reason can be a sign as well. Symptoms including a seizure, weakness in the limbs, slurred speech and confusion necessitate a call to 911. Symptoms ... 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, Head Imaging
Surgeons Warn of Trampolines' Down Side
Posted 18 days ago by Drugs.com
SATURDAY, July 29, 2017 – A trampoline may have your kids jumping for joy, but the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reminds parents of potential dangers. In 2015, more than 295,000 medically treated trampoline injuries occurred in the United States. These included almost 103,000 emergency department visits, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "We want children to enjoy exercise and physical activity, especially during the summer months, but parents and caregivers should know about the dangers of trampolines and the risk for serious injury, especially in very young children," academy spokeswoman Dr. Jennifer Weiss said in a news release from the surgeons' group. "Children younger than age 6 are less likely to have the coordination, body awareness and swift reaction time necessary to keep their bodies, bones and brains safe on trampolines," said Weiss, a Los ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Fracture, bone, Compression Fracture of Vertebral Column, Prevention of Falls, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness, Prevention of Fractures
Nearly All Autopsied NFL Players Show Trauma-Linked Brain Disease
Posted 25 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 – Ninety-nine percent of former NFL players who donated their brain to science turned out to have the devastating disorder chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a new report. Researchers found evidence of the degenerative brain disease in 110 out of 111 deceased National Football League players, said study co-author Dr. Daniel Daneshvar. He is a researcher with the Boston University School of Medicine's CTE Center. "A remarkable proportion of the athletes who played at the highest level develop neurodegenerative disease," Daneshvar said. "This is incredibly concerning, because of the sheer numbers" of men who have ever played the game professionally. Evidence of CTE also was found in 91 percent of brains donated by college football players, 88 percent of those from Canadian Football League players, and 21 percent of brains donated by high school ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Diagnosis and Investigation, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Head Imaging, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
Scans May Show Consciousness in 'Comatose' Patients
Posted 20 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 – Sophisticated brain scans might be able to detect consciousness in brain injury patients who appear unconscious in the intensive care unit, a new study says. "Early detection of consciousness and brain function in the intensive care unit could allow families to make more informed decisions about the care of loved ones," said study co-lead author Dr. Brian Edlow. He's with Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery. "Also, since early recovery of consciousness is associated with better long-term outcomes, these tests could help patients gain access to rehabilitative care once they are discharged from an ICU," Edlow said in a hospital news release. The study included 16 severe brain injury patients in the ICU. The researchers concluded that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) may reveal ... 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, Head Imaging
How Princess Diana's Death Saved French Lives
Posted 19 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 – Princess Diana's tragic death in a car crash in Paris prompted tougher traffic laws that have saved thousands of French lives, and those laws could serve as a model for the United States, a new study suggests. After the horrific accident in August 1997, investigators determined that unsafe driving practices contributed to the accident. In 2002, the French government enacted tougher driving laws to make roads safer. And the measures apparently worked, with French traffic deaths falling by nearly a third. Wesley Marshall, an associate professor at the University of Colorado who studies traffic engineering, said the new study's authors "certainly make an intriguing case." Marshall said it seems almost certain that Princess Diana's death helped promote at least some of the traffic law changes in France. "Even if some of these would have been enacted anyway, the ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Fracture, bone, Compression Fracture of Vertebral Column, Prevention of Fractures
McCain's Recovery Time After Surgery Uncertain, Experts Say
Posted 17 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, July 17, 2017 – A pending pathology report will reveal the health risk posed by a blood clot that forced U.S. Sen. John McCain to undergo brain surgery last week, experts say. The future of the Affordable Care Act may rest on McCain's recovery and return to Congress. A Senate vote to repeal the ACA – often called Obamacare – was shelved after McCain, 80, underwent a minimally invasive craniotomy above his left eye Friday. Doctors drilled into his skull and removed a roughly 2-inch blood clot, according to a statement from his office. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell needs McCain's support if he is to dismantle the ACA, a longstanding Republican goal. Repeal of the Obama health care act will require approval from 50 of the Senate's 52 Republicans, and two have already pledged to oppose the bill. McConnell has said voting will start when McCain, who is serving his sixth ... Read more
Related support groups: Ischemic Stroke, Head Injury, Transient Ischemic Attack, Ischemic Stroke - Prophylaxis, Surgical Prophylaxis, Coagulation Defects and Disorders
Boxers, MMA Fighters May Face Long-Term Harm to Brain: Study
Posted 13 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, July 13, 2017 – There's been a great deal of attention paid lately to the potential lasting damage of head blows suffered by professional football players. But what about other sports where repeated trauma to the head is also common? Do those sports lead to any long-term brain damage? Possibly, suggests a new study that found boxers and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters have higher levels of certain brain proteins that reflect brain injury compared to retired fighters and non-fighters. The research is preliminary, but if it bears out, the analysis might be a way to predict which fighters are at the greatest risk of long-term complications, said study author Dr. Charles Bernick. He's the associate director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. "We can identify proteins in the blood that may reflect ongoing brain injury," he said. In the study, ... Read more
Related support groups: Head Injury, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Diagnosis and Investigation, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Head Imaging, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
PTSD After Head Injury May Signal Brain Changes
Posted 13 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, July 13, 2017 – Scientists report they have discovered biological differences in the brains of head injury patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, the area of the brain that controls emotion – the amygdala – is larger than normal in those who develop PTSD after a brain injury, researchers said. "Many consider PTSD to be a psychological disorder, but our study found a key physical difference in the brains of military-trained individuals with brain injury and PTSD," said Dr. Joel Pieper, from the University of California, San Diego. "These findings have the potential to change the way we approach PTSD diagnosis and treatment," Pieper added. The study included 89 current or former members of the U.S. military with mild traumatic brain injury. Brain scans revealed that the amygdala was 6 percent larger, particularly on the right side, in the 29 ... Read more
Related support groups: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Head Injury, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Diagnosis and Investigation, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness
Many High School Principals Know Little About Concussions
Posted 12 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, July 12, 2017 – A survey of U.S. high school principals found only one-third had received training in how to help students with concussion return to the classroom. "Many times, there are protocols in place for how a concussed student returns to their sport, but it is also important to look at how they return to the classroom," said study author Dr. Kristyn Tekulve, of Indiana University. "Contrary to popular belief, returning to school – being lightly active and social – can help students as they recover. However, they may need special accommodations as they ease back into their normal school routine," Tekulve said in an American Academy of Neurology news release. For the study, 157 public high school principals in Indiana completed an anonymous online survey. Of those, 42 percent said they had one to five students who had suffered a concussion in the last year. Only 34 ... 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
Severe Head Injury May Raise Dementia Risk Years Later
Posted 5 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, July 5, 2017 – A severe head injury, especially during middle age, could dramatically boost the risk for developing dementia later in life, new research from Finland suggests. The investigation tracked dementia risk among people who had suffered a traumatic brain injury [TBI] at 65 or younger. Ultimately, the researchers determined that not only did the risk go up for those who had a TBI, but the worse the initial head injury, the greater the risk of dementia. "The study showed that 3.5 percent of persons with moderate-to-severe TBI [were] diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease [such as dementia] later in life," said study lead author Dr. Rahul Raj. He's an associate professor of experimental neurosurgery at Helsinki University Hospital. "This is substantially higher compared to age-matched peers with no history of brain injury," he noted. By comparison, "only 1.6 ... Read more
Related support groups: Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Head Injury, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Arteriosclerotic Dementia, Head Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage, Head Injury w/ Intracranial Hemorrhage and Loss of Consciousness, Lewy Body Dementia, Arteriosclerotic Dementia w/ Depressive Features, Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness, Dementia with Depressive Features
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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
