What happens if your brain is damaged

When the brain is starved of oxygen for a prolonged period of time, brain damage may occur. Brain damage can also occur as a result of a wide range of injuries, illnesses, or conditions. Because of high-risk behaviors, males between the ages of 15 and 24 are most vulnerable.

Young children and the elderly also have a higher risk. Symptoms of Brain Damage. There are numerous symptoms of brain damage, whether traumatic or acquired. Acquired Brain Injury. Uneven pupil dilation indicates shock or damage to the brain and requires immediate medical evaluation. Uncharacteristic anxiety, depression, mood swings, or unusual behavior or mindset are concerning symptoms for someone who has suffered a brain injury.

Altered personality or mood may indicate more subtle or long-term brain damage that needs to be addressed, such as cumulative damage or an unnoticed buildup of blood in the brain hematoma. Note that symptoms of brain injury may not appear right away. If someone sustains a blow to the head or other damage to their neurons, it might take some time before the damage becomes apparent. One trait of brain injury is that sometimes the affected brain cells die or degrade over time after the trauma actually occurs.

Keep monitoring for new symptoms or concerns even after the initial danger of a brain injury seems to have subsided. The brain is a complex organ and may take longer to recover than you might expect. It is especially important to protect a brain injury victim from new injuries while they are recovering. Having a history of head trauma makes the risk for getting future brain injuries more serious.

The brain tissue may swell causing it to take up more room in the skull. This is called edema. When this occurs, the swollen brain tissue will push the other contents of the skull to the side. There may be bruising called contusions or a collection of blood called a hematoma or clot. The length of coma varies from person to person. It can last from a few days to several months , or longer.

Family members may expect a patient to suddenly wake up from a coma, but coming out of a coma is usually a very slow process. Usually, patients will become more aware of the people and things around them as they wake up from a coma. Predicting how quickly or how well a patient will come out of a coma depends on a number of factors such as the location, severity, and extent of damage.

People may emerge from a coma with a combination of physical, intellectual, and psychological difficulties that need special attention. Some patients never progress beyond very basic responses, and some recover full awareness.

Family members and friends often wonder if comatose patients can hear. Sometimes patients seem to be calmed by a familiar voice or music. Since patients rarely remember these events later, it is impossible to know what they actually hear.