New TBI Treatment Targets the Inflammatory Response of the Body

A new study recently got published in the Nature Immunology journal. Researchers from the Babraham Institute’s Immunology research program found some interesting insights on a potential treatment for TBI patients. As your go-to source of traumatic brain injury recovery in Miami, we thought it would be best to share details about this study. 

How Does the New TBI Treatment Work?

Essentially, the newly discovered TBI treatment works by mediating inflammation. That means it can potentially protect the brain from further damage. The key findings of the research paper are as follows: 

• The body regulates inflammation with the help of the T-cells.
• Sadly, patients with TBI have a low supply of T-cells in the brain.
•  To help TBI patients, the researchers a new therapeutic approach that helps boost the T-cell population.
• The treatment is one of its kind because it uses a brain-specific delivery system.
• Doctors and researchers note that the treatment might come in handy in preventing secondary injuries during the recovery period. 

While the treatment has yet to reach the final stages until it can get distributed in the market, it provides a glimmer of hope to patients who want to ensure a smooth recovery journey.

Secondary Brain Injury: What It Is and Why It’s Important to Avoid It

Secondary brain injury is one of the complications of TBI that can cause long-term problems for surviving patients. Hopkins Medicine explains that a secondary TBI develops a few days after the initial injury. Additionally, it occurs in a series of stages that causes chemical, tissue, and cellular changes in the brain. 

Eventually, it can lead to the destruction of the brain tissues. To help you better understand secondary TBI, here’s a list of its usual signs or manifestations:

• Brain ischemia (Low blood flow)
• Hypoxia (Lack of brain oxygen)
• Fluctuating blood pressure 
• Brain tissue swelling
• Increased pressure in the brain 
• Brain herniation (displacement of brain tissue)
• Carbon dioxide buildup in the blood 
• Inflammation of the meninges 
• Brain abscess
• Epilepsy
• Neurotransmitter imbalance 
• Fluctuating levels of potassium and sodium

Preventing Complications of Brain Injuries

There aren’t enough statistics or research papers that provide insights on how many TBI survivors sustain secondary trauma. However, that doesn’t mean that the problem is inexistent. Hence, we strongly suggest taking the necessary preventive measures, such as the following:

Work Through Your Sleeping Problems

Sleep deprivation tends to increase the body’s inflammatory molecules. Sadly, this puts many TBI survivors at risk because the injury often causes various sleeping problems, including insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and delayed or mixed-up sleep. So, it’s crucial to tap into proven sleeping techniques such as the following:

• Setting the alarm to maintain a consistent schedule 
• Including meaningful and productive activities in your plan
• Limit time spent watching TV 
• Schedule a regular exercise routine 
• Enjoy the outdoors and get enough sunlight 
• Avoid taking long naps during the day
• Limit caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine consumption before you head to bed 
• Create a comfy sleeping environment 
• If sleep eludes you, we suggest doing something boring or relaxing until you fall asleep

Embrace a Healthier You With the Help of a Good TBI Diet

Eating a well-balanced diet can make a big difference for anyone recovering from a TBI. But, besides that, you should also look into food items that help TBI survivors. Notably, there are a lot of food products that you can take advantage of, including fatty fish, dark chocolate, leafy green veggies, pumpkin seeds, berries, walnuts, fatty fish, and turmeric root or powder.

Additionally, we recommend steering clear of food products such as: 

• Sugary drinks
• Dairy products
• Deli meats or cold cuts
• Fatty cuts of meat
• Sodium rich food

Pace yourself and give your body enough time to recover

Nothing can prepare you for traumatic brain injuries. That’s why we strongly suggest pacing yourself when returning to work or handling physically demanding activities. Feel free to open up to your superiors about your condition or get help from your loved ones. 

Additionally, it might help to prioritize your tasks according to their difficulty level. You can also spread out your chores over several days to avoid overexerting your mind and body. 

Begin Your Journey Towards Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery In Miami

It’s exciting to see further studies on TBI recovery. Hopefully, more and more researchers can unlock novel and promising approaches to help survivors. Meanwhile, if you’re a TBI survivor, we suggest tapping into existing rehabilitation programs as soon as possible. Studies note that recovery usually begins three months after the injury. Hence, it would help seek professionals specializing in traumatic brain injury recovery in Miami. 

Jumpstarting your recovery journey can help minimize your risks of complications such as a secondary brain injury. Additionally, undergoing rehabilitation early during the initial phases of your recovery can help speed up the healing process of the damaged brain tissues. 

iAM ABLE is committed to assisting patients in thriving in life despite being paralyzed after a traumatic brain injury. We use several techniques to help our patients overcome or manage paralysis and lead a happy and content life. Additionally, we get to know the needs of each patient to ensure that we use the best approach and techniques. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we help our patients enjoy traumatic brain injury recovery in Miami. We can tell you all about our tailored-fit rehabilitation programs for TBI survivors and other patients. You may also download our book on how to live with paralysis to learn essential tips from our team of specialists.

Grab our free e-book 7 Unbelievably Important Steps to Take to THRIVE after Paralysis by clicking the image below.