Category: Blog

Brain injuries are on the rise. 155 Americans died from a brain injury every day in 2014. Between 2006 and 2014, the number of emergency department visits for a brain injury increased by 53 percent.

People are becoming more active. They are putting themselves in more situations where they can get injured, and they are getting hurt. It’s essential to stay in shape, but it’s important to recognize the signs of a brain injury as well. 

Every injury is different, but there are common signs and treatment plans you can look for. Read this brief guide to keep yourself safe. 

Symptoms of a Mild Brain Injury

The symptoms of any brain injury vary significantly. Injuries can appear on the exact spot where the injury occurred. Symptoms can present immediately. 

But the surrounding tissues can become damaged as well. Tissue damage means that other symptoms may take weeks to appear. 

Any description of symptoms is a generalized one. You should seek any treatment after any head injury. Nonetheless, some common symptoms appear with a mild injury. 

One symptom that shows up in more than 30 percent of people with a brain injury is a long-lasting headache. The pain makes it hard for the person to carry out activities. They may struggle with memory loss or sensory processing. 

A person may experience lightheadedness or dizziness. They may need to sit down in order to pull themselves together. 

A person can experience blurred vision and/or ringing in their ears. They may become sensitive to light or sound. 

One common symptom related to mild brain trauma is being tired or sleepy. With a brain injury, sleeping patterns can change, so they sleep more or less. When they wake up, they may not feel refreshed.

From the initial injury, a person can lose consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. Regaining consciousness does not mean that the damage has gone away. 

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. It occurs when the brain bounces around or twists, damaging cells. The term is used interchangeably with “mild traumatic brain injury.”

Just remember, a person may not have a cut, significant bruising, or any outward sign of injury on their head, but they can still have a brain injury.

Symptoms of an Advanced Brain Injury

Like mild injuries, advanced injuries are present differently, but there are common signs with more damage.

With more significant brain trauma, a person may suffer from an intense headache. The pain can cause them to vomit or feel nauseous. They may lose vision in one or both eyes. The pupil may become enlarged and unresponsive to light. 

Movements may become clumsy. A person can become confused and unable to control their own body. Often after significant trauma, a person can struggle to awaken from sleep. 

They may suffer from sudden seizures, even if they did not have a history of them. Sixty-five percent of people who receive a brain injury from a bullet wound, for example, experience a seizure.

Symptoms may not appear until some time has passed after the injury. Even if someone presents no signs, they should still seek the advice of a doctor. 

The First Steps for Treatment

• Call 911 immediately. 
• Do not move the injured person’s head or neck. If their brain is bleeding, moving it around will cause more blood to flow. 
• If they have a cut on their face, you can apply a bandage as long as you don’t move their head. 
• Take notice of any other injuries as well. 

Treatment of Brain Injury at the Medical Facility

Most of the time, doctors use state-of-the-art scans to assess potential damage. A CT scan uses X-rays to create a view of the brain. An MRI uses radio waves to create images of brain tissues. 

Using these scans, doctors can see hemorrhages, bruised tissue, and swollen tissue. Any of these symptoms require emergency treatments, including surgery. 

Most mild injuries do not require excessive treatment. A patient can be discharged within hours or up to a couple of days after their injury. 

At Home Care for Brain Injury

If you seek a medical professional’s care, they will give you detailed instructions on caring for the patient at home. If there are any questions, always talk to your doctor for more information.

Generally, a person with brain trauma should keep their head still, resting on their back. They should avoid activities that require thinking, like reading or using a computer. But they can talk with their friends and family and handle small amounts of light. 

After a few days, they should increase their activities if they are feeling well. They can participate in light exercises like walking. They should still avoid extended amounts of work. 

What Happens Next?

Even a mild injury can take months to recover from fully. A major brain injury will take years. 

As a person’s brain heals, they can take many different medications. Anticoagulants prevent blood clots that could cause further complications. If a person suffers from mood swings, they could take antidepressants or anti-anxiety pills. 

A person can take many kinds of therapy. Physical therapy helps them rebuild their physical strength and balance. A person with a significant injury can learn how to walk and drive again. Occupational therapy trains a person in daily tasks like getting dressed. Speech therapy helps a person form words and use communication skills. 

Living with a traumatic brain injury can be depressing. A person can turn to a psychiatrist for support. They can receive training on interpersonal relationships, and they can develop coping skills. 

New and exciting treatments are on the rise. One popular way to cope with an injury is neurofeedback therapy. 

A doctor uses an EEG to assess a patient’s brainwaves. The doctor can then prescribe therapies that engage parts of the brain that aren’t working. These therapies create positive reinforcement that prompts the brain to adopt healthy patterns of behavior. The best part of this therapy is that it is drug-free.

Most people recover fully and regain their physical health. One injury does not cause dementia or disorders like CTE. 

Preserve Your Brain Health

A brain injury can be devastating, but you can diminish the pain by recognizing the signs of one. 

A constant headache and brief loss of consciousness are two common signs of a mild injury. Disorientation and prolonged unconsciousness are typical for a more severe injury. 

After any head injury, you should call 911. Do not move the person’s head until paramedics arrive. Any damage will take months to recover from, but treatment plans are flexible. 

Go to the experts on brain health. The Dody Chiropractic Center for Wholeness is Littleton, Colorado’s leading brain health group. Contact us today for more information. 

Do you notice things are harder to remember than they used to be? Are you worried that you or a loved one might have early memory loss?

A study found that one in nine Americans over the age of 45 report memory issues. But there are ways you can treat these issues without medication. Keep reading to learn about these treatments for memory loss so that you can live a normal, productive life.

Here are 6 ways to treat early memory loss-

#1. Get Organized

You can easily forget things if your home is cluttered and you don’t have notes. Jot down everything in one special notebook, electronic planner, or calendar. Write things down, such as tasks, appointments, and other events.

Try to keep everything together. You may want to repeat something out loud as you write it down to help you remember. Be sure to keep your list updated and check off things as you complete them. 

Try to limit your distractions and don’t do too much at one time. If you focus on what you want to remember, you can likely recall it later. 

#2. Exercise Regularly to Help Reduce Early Memory Loss

Exercise is good for more than just your heart and body; it can also help your memory. A study found that women with early signs of memory loss that started an exercise program increased the area’s size in the brain associated with memory.

It would be best if you tried to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking or jogging. If you don’t have time for a full workout, try doing 10-minute intervals throughout the day.

#3. Stay Mentally Active to Keep Memory Loss at Bay

We are all aware that physical activity is good for your body; similarly, mental exercises can help your brain stay in shape.

Try doing tasks such as playing bridge, driving alternate routes, completing crossword puzzles, or learning a new instrument. You can also volunteer at a community organization or the school to keep your mind active.

#4. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is vital to help your brain consolidate your memories so you can remember them down the road. Make sleep a priority in your life. You should get at least seven to nine hours of sleep every day.

#5. Eat the Right Foods

Diet plays a vital role in your brain health. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It would help if you also ate low-fat proteins like beans, fish, and skinless poultry. 

Be careful about the amount of alcohol you drink because it can lead to memory loss and confusion. Limit your processed foods and sugar. 

#6. Try Neurofeedback Therapy

This brain-based treatment is non-invasive and encourages the brain to work better throughout the training. Neurofeedback therapy analyzes your brainwaves to create a personalized training program.

It addresses any problem brainwave patterns that are a sign of memory loss and other brain issues such as anxiety, depression, headaches, chronic pain, and more.

Treat Early Memory Loss Today

If you have any symptoms of early memory loss, you should try treating it immediately. Make sure you exercise, stimulate your brain, get enough sleep, and eat properly.

Are you interested in neurofeedback therapy? Contact us today for a customized treatment plan to help you improve your memory and brain function. Catching memory loss early on is critical.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the significant causes of death and disability in the US. 

Long-lasting effects of a traumatic brain injury can include movement issues, memory problems, depression, anxiety, and vision and hearing issues.

The good news is that treatments can help you cope with the effects of a traumatic brain injury. The even better news is that this braining training is safe and effective, with no side effects.

Read on as we take a look at how neurofeedback therapy can help.

What is Neurofeedback Therapy?

Neurofeedback therapy is a new therapy that involves using an electroencephalogram (EEG) to assess the patient’s brainwaves. 

The brainwave patterns are then used to form a personalized training program. This program trains the brain to develop new patterns.

Over time, this training can condition your brain to create the desired patterns. In effect, it is possible to ‘re-wire’ your brain.

The training involves using a gentle “carrot and stick” system or positive reinforcement to encourage your brain to form healthier patterns.

How Does It Help?

Certain types of brainwave activity can correlate to some of the adverse effects of a traumatic brain injury. For example, excessive beta brainwaves on the right side of the brain can correspond with anxiety.

Your brain can be conditioned to no longer make harmful patterns once they’ve been detected. This can significantly improve anxiety and depression symptoms, ADD/ADHD, memory loss, PTSD, and more.

The training process is non-invasive and does not require any medication. Because this process does not use medicines, there are no severe side effects.

What to Expect

The process is straightforward. We use electrodes to measure your brain activity in real-time. You then sit back and watch a show or listen to music. 

When the electrodes detect either too high or too low brain activity, the movie is dimmed, or the music volume lowered; this is enough to distract your brain as you refocus on the film or music. This refocusing corrects your brainwave patterns, and the movie or music will continue as usual.

By repeating this process, your brain learns what the more desirable brain patterns are, and over time it learns to make them on its own. 

With enough sessions, your brain can be permanently changed to no longer make negative brain patterns without any further training or intervention.

You should see a significant improvement in your traumatic brain injury symptoms once the negative brain patterns have been corrected.

Are You Looking for Help Coping With a Traumatic Brain Injury?

If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury or have any other issue that would benefit from neurofeedback therapy, then we’re here to help.

Our Littleton, CO Wellness Center offers neurofeedback therapy for conditions such as ADD/ADHD as well as anxiety or panic issues. Our doctor uses state-of-the-art technology called qEEG or Brain Mapping to measure and analyze the brainwaves across your entire brain. The doctor will then create a highly personalized training program targeting the problem brainwave-patterns. 

We offer chiropractic care and functional medicine services, as well. 

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.