March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Posted on March 1, 2022

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, led by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). According to the BIAA, more than 5.3 million people in the United States are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability. Brain Injury Awareness Month aims to bring more awareness to a neurological disease that is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and underfunded.

Brain Injury Facts and Statistics

The statistics surrounding brain injuries are sobering:

• Someone sustains a brain injury every 9 seconds in the United States
• More than 3.6 million people sustain an acquired brain injury (ABI) each year
• At least 2.8 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year

How Do Brain Injuries Occur?Brain Scan Showing Imaging of a Brain Injury with the Affected Area Behind the Forehead in Red

Acquired brain injuries can be caused by a wide range of events, with some of the most common being:

• Electric shock
• Infectious disease
• Lightning strike
• Oxygen deprivation
• Toxic exposure
• Vehicle accidents
• Seizure disorders
• Trauma
• Substance abuse/overdose
• Stroke

One in every 60 people in the United States lives with a TBI-related disability. Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries are:

• Falls (47.9%)
• Being struck, or striking something (17.10%)
• Motor vehicle incidents (13.2%)
• Other or unknown incidents (13.2%)
• Assaults (8.3%)

What to do if You Suspect Someone Has Suffered a Brain Injury

For any accidents that involve trauma to the head or whiplash, medical care should be sought immediately. If you witness an accident, call 911 and follow any first aid instructions provided by the dispatcher. If you are involved in an accident, call 911 or have someone call for you. Even a minor fender bender can cause head trauma, so it is important that you see a doctor for evaluation. Your physician may request a neuro MRI in New Jersey for you to check for any injuries that can’t be detected from an initial examination.

How ImageCare Radiology Can Help

ImageCare Radiology provides services for neuro MRI in New Jersey, along with other imaging services. We help patients accurately diagnose brain injuries in order to develop the best course of treatment with their doctor for the best long-term health outcomes. If your doctor has requested a brain scan or other imaging services for you, call us to schedule an appointment at one of our conveniently located offices.