I’m not a football player (by a long shot) or a soldier. But, I’ve certainly had my share of concussions. (I still have the gnarly bumps on my noggin from several of them.) No. Actually, I’ve had more than enough concussions- no one needs a share of this trauma. But, some 1.7 million folks are diagnosed with concussions each year.
Continue reading Oxygen to the rescue?
I wish we did not have to do these kinds of studies. But, this one will help our troops, our athletes, car crash victims, and a whole bunch more. The US Department of Defense commissioned the Institute of Medicine (IOM, associated the the National Academies, where our best and our brightest serve voluntarily) to study traumatic brain injury(TBI). One of the problems is that we have not yet characterized the biomechanics of TBI, so this study was devoted to the treatment (nutritional aspect) of patients who suffer TBI.
Continue reading Hope for TBI patients
Even though the brain, with the consistency of custard, is sealed inside the skull (and surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid), it constantly adjusts to stress (both physical and mental). As I said earlier, the NFL is beginning to recognize that its players undergo numerous brain injuries. (Oh, so many plays on words come to mind.). As a result, they are now subjecting recruits to a series of brain tests. No, they are not expecting them to be budding creators. They are seeking baseline brain function- so, when and if- they reach the big leagues and get hurt, there will be a comparison to determine if the brain is injured.
Continue reading TBI- traumatic brain injury- NFL, US Armed Forces, Vehicular Accidents…
We are hearing more and more about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) nowadays, primarily as a result of the improvised explosive devices (IED) in Iraq and Afghanistan hurting our troops. But, even the intransigent NFL recognizes the problem (football helmets are not precluding brain trauma). And, last month, a batter’s broken bat knocked out Carlos Ruiz, the Phillies’ fully-helmeted catcher, who was then put on the disability list for 15 days. (He is slowly coming back to full form.)
Continue reading New tests to discern Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)