Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sudden damage to the brain caused by a blow or jolt to the head. Common causes include car or motorcycle crashes, falls, sports injuries, and assaults. Injuries can range from mild concussions to severe permanent brain damage.

A catastrophic brain injury is defined as any brain injury that is expected to result in permanent loss of all brain function above the brain stem level. These clinical recommendations will help stabilize the patient so that they may be safely evacuated from theater.

Any injury you receive to your head, that does not go through the skull, is a closed head injury. Closed head injuries can range from minor injuries to devastating, life-threatening major injuries.

HOW TO HELP YOUR BRAIN HEAL AFTER AN INJURY

1. Get plenty of sleep at night, and rest during the day.
2. Increase your activity slowly.
3. Write down the things that may be harder than usual for you to remember.
4. Avoid alcohol, drugs, and caffeine.
5. Eat brain-healthy foods.
6. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, is an award-winning physician-scientist and clinical development specialist. Conventional wisdom has long suggested that we cannot grow new brain cells; that we are born with all of the brain cells we will ever have and that once those gray cells expire, they’re gone for good.

5 tips to keep your brain healthy

1. Exercise regularly. The first thing I tell my patients is to keep exercising.
2. Get plenty of sleep. Sleep plays an important role in your brain health.
3. Eat a Mediterranean diet. Your diet plays a large role in your brain health.
4. Stay mentally active.
5. Remain socially involved.

During a neurological exam, your doctor will check for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes and your response to pain. Your doctor will also check your eyes for swelling of the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. You may also be asked to complete some basic memory tests.

11 Best Foods to Boost Your Brain and Memory

1. Fatty fish. When people talk about brain foods, fatty fish is often at the top of the list.
2. Coffee. If coffee is the highlight of your morning, you’ll be glad to hear that it’s good for you.
3. Blueberries.
4. Turmeric.
5. Broccoli.
6. Pumpkin seeds.
7. Dark chocolate.
8. Nuts.

Proven ways to protect memory include following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar in check. Living a mentally active life is important, too. Just as muscles grow stronger with use, mental exercise helps keep mental skills and memory in tone.