Protect your brain

Is it just a bump on the head, or could it be something more serious? Knowing the difference can prevent permanent injury or even save a life.

Recent media coverage of the death of Natasha Richardson has many people questioning what they thought they knew about traumatic brain injuries. Celebrity aside, the issues are ones that effect everyone: could incidents like this be prevented? How can you tell if an seemingly minor injury actually poses a serious threat?

A hidden danger?

While the majority of brain injuries don't get widespread media attention, they're actually more common than people think. Not to be confused with head injuries in general (like cuts or bruises), brain injuries can have serious and lasting affects. Statistics are hard to pin down, but experts generally agree that brain injuries are a leading cause of death and disability in people under the age of 35, particularly men. In Alberta alone, hospital see about 14,000 cases of brain injury a year, and an estimated 10,000 people across Canada will die from them. People who survive serious brain injuries are faced with years of rehabilitation and often permanent effects -- and many of them won't receive the social or financial support they need.

What makes serious brain injuries hard to spot? Part of the problem is the "hidden" nature of brain injuries. We can see a sprained ankle or broken arm, but we can't see if our brains are hurt. Many injuries such as concussions, contusions (bruises on the brain which can cause bleeding and swelling) and hematomas (blot clots which form in the brain) can happen without a fracture to the skull. Essentially, the brain gets hurt when a violent blow or traumatic injury (like a fall or car accident) causes it to "crash into" its protective casing.

Our brains don't come equipped with pain-sensing nerves to alert us to problems. Worse yet, when the brain bleeds or swells there's no room inside the skull to compensate. Instead, as a hematoma or swelling gets worse it places dangerous pressure on the brain -- a serious problem requiring emergency surgery.

Know the warning signs

So how seriously should you take a sports injury or a fall? In general, experts agree that any blow to the head or traumatic injury deserves attention from a doctor. Even concussions, which can be comparatively mild, require monitoring to make sure more serious symptoms don't develop.

According to the College of Family Physicians Canada, it's not unusual for someone who suffers a head injury to experience symptoms like a mild headache, ringing in the ears, neck pain, nausea, dizziness and difficulty concentrating. This symptoms usually go away in a matter of days or weeks.

So when do mild symptoms turn dangerous? If any of the above symptoms gets worse, that's cause for concern and reason enough to seek medical attention. More serious symptoms, whether they show up at the time of injury or develop later on, require immediate attention. Experts recommend getting emergency help right away if the person experiences:

- Loss of consciousness

- Seizures

- Headaches that develop or get worse.

- Confusion or loss of memory

- Drowsiness, or not responding

- Loss of balance or poor coordination

- Slurred speech

- Nausea and vomiting