Blogged Health

With the recent increased media attention being paid to the National Football League and the controversy over the care of it's players suffering from traumatic brain injuries, many may be surprised to learn that football is not the leading sport in which brain injuries are suffered.

According to the Think First National Injury Prevention Foundation, traumatic brain injury causes 20 times more disabilities than AIDS, breast cancer, spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis combined. An estimated 1,165,000 children will require hospitalization following a traumatic brain injury, while one in 10 will live with moderate to severe impairments.

The International Brain Injury Association is pleased to announce that the Portuguese Ministry of Health has officially endorsed the Seventh World Congress on Brain Injury, scheduled for April 9-12, 2008, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Maggie Hilbrands, a 12-year old Grand Rapids, Michigan softball player died yesterday after being struck in the head with a ball during practice on Tuesday. The ball struck her head, producing a brain injury that caused her heart to temporarily stop, and she never regained consciousness.

The International Brain Injury Association has a wonderful article detailing the importance of early diagnosis and the constant attention that needs to be paid to concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI).