Protecting Yourself from Traumatic Brain Injury

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev, 28, was an amateur champion winning medals in world and Russian matches. He won his first 13 professional bouts, but on July 20, his fight in Maryland would be his last.

He died July 23 after suffering a brain injury in the match after repeated blows from his opponent, according the Russian Boxing Federation. He collapsed as he was leaving the ring and was rushed to the hospital.

Though boxing isn’t something that most people do, this tragedy is a reminder how serious traumatic brain injuries should be taken.

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, contributes to a substantial number of deaths or permanent disability each year. In 2014, there were 2.87 million cases of TBI noted in Emergency Department visits across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating injury to the head that causes the brain not to function normally. Most TBI range from mild to severe. The mild ones, we refer to as concussions and most people recover well from symptoms that come from concussions. Recovery may be slower among older adults, young children and teens. Some people may also find that it takes longer to recover if they have another TBI.

But a person with a severe brain injury will need to be hospitalized and may have long-term problems affecting things such as:
• Thinking, memory or learning
• Coordination and balance
• Speech, hearing or vision
• Emotions

A severe brain injury can affect all aspects of people’s lives, including relationships with family and friends, as well as their ability to work or be employed, do household chores, drive and do other normal daily activities.

Some of the first signs of TBI will include having difficulty thinking clearly, headaches, irritability or sadness, and a desire for sleep. A person may have fuzzy vision, nausea, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to noise or light, balance problems and anxiety.

The best thing to do is protect the brain.