Monday, April 19, 2010

This War's Injury

I remember my Dad often talking about the hand to hand combat they had in Vietnam.  Or the after affects of Agent Orange.  That was his war.  As a military wife, I now realize that my husband was part of a very different war.  Though we were lucky, and he has nothing more then the occasional nightmare, many servicemembers aren't.  One of my best friends husband had a TBI, several years ago, and it is still affecting them today.  I was contacted and asked to post this little tidbit on my site, and I'm happy to do it.  If you know of a family who is dealing with a TBI, please, please pass this on.




Traumatic Brain Injuries and the Military




Military men and women are continually involved situations where risk of injury is high. One silent war wound that can often go unnoticed is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) . A TBI damages the brain that can often cause life-altering wounds, which can result in changes in personality, behavior, and even the brain functions of the victim. Some of these conditions are not just life-altering, but can be life threatening and are often partnered with rehabilitation from special care facilities like CareMeridian Las Vegas nursing home.



According to the Veterans Health Initiative, active male members of the military were hospitalized due to TBI related injuries at a rate of 231 per 100,000. The rate for female members of the military was 150 per 100,000. Based on these statistics over 4,000 military personnel are hospitalized on average each year for traumatic brain injuries. Some are as mild as a concussion, while others can be severe and have life altering effects.



The best way to prevent TBI is through awareness. Recognizing and responding to the symptoms of a TBI can often aid in the preventing further damage caused by the injury. Dizziness, headaches, changes in personality or sleep patterns, and memory loss are clear signs of TBI. Unfortunately these symptoms can sometimes be ignored or discarded as minor pains during times of conflict and even once the solider returns home. This sets up a dangerous precedent for a war wound that may never heal, so it is vital that serviceman and their families are aware of TBI, so that they can recognize and help treat it if symptoms are present.


1 comment:

  1. I think this has got to be one of the most unrecognized affects of the war. Thanks for posting!

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