Did you know that 1 million Canadians are living with various forms of brain injury?1
A hit to the head or elsewhere on the body that disturbs normal brain function is known as traumatic brain injury (TBI); a major cause of death and disability. Most TBIs are known as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) – commonly referred to as concussions.2
Traumatic brain injury and concussion stats:
- Falls, motor vehicle collisions, sports injuries and violence are the leading causes of TBIs3
- There are nearly 50 TBI hospitalizations each day in Canada3
- The number of concussions in seniors is expected to rise due to our aging population and increased risk of falls4
- 1 in 5 sport-related injuries are concussions,5 and more than 9 out of 10 emergency department visits for sport-related brain injuries are concussion-related6
- 64% of emergency department visits among 10-18-year-olds are related to participation in sports and recreation7
- It is estimated that more than 50% of concussions are never reported
- Hockey, cycling, football, rugby and soccer injuries result in the most athletes sent to the emergency department for brain injuries6,7
- More than 90% of concussions do not result in loss of consciousness
- Concussion symptoms often disappear in 7 to 10 days but it usually takes much longer for the brain to fully recover
- Research demonstrates that more than 30% of concussion patients have symptoms for more than 4 weeks – this is known as “post-concussion syndrome”8
- The exact cause of persistent or prolonged symptoms following concussion remains somewhat of a mystery; however, research points to treatable causes such as whiplash or neck injuries, visual or dizziness issues, blood flow impairments, and psychological overlay
If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a concussion, it’s important that they receive proper care as soon as possible following injury as this can have significant impact on their recovery. Find a clinic here.
For more information about TBI, mTBI or awareness initiatives, visit Brain Injury Canada or follow them on Facebook.