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Military Veterans Are at Higher Risk for Stroke After a TBI

Traumatic brain injuries often increase the risks for several long-term neurological problems, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Some studies also found that TBI survivors are 86 percent more likely to experience a stroke than non-TBI patients. Unfortunately, TBI remains a widespread health concern in the USA, with around 1.5 million reported cases each year. It affects a broad spectrum of individuals, including military veterans exposed to improvised explosive devices (IED), motor vehicle accidents, and shockwave blasts. 

New research suggests that military veterans who once suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) face a higher risk of stroke between a year and a decade after the injury. Thankfully,  rehabilitation helps retrain the brain and the rest of the nervous system to avoid complications during the process of  traumatic brain injury recovery in Miami.

 

Defining Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury is usually a result of physical trauma, such as a violent blow to the head or body. However, it can also be from an object that penetrates brain tissues like a bullet, bullet fragments, or shattered pieces of skull. When you suffer from a traumatic brain injury, you can be unconscious, confused, have episodes of amnesia, and other neurological symptoms.

When you suffer from mild traumatic brain injury, your brain cells can temporarily be affected. However, a more serious traumatic brain injury can lead to physical damage to the brain, such as bruising, bleeding, and torn tissues. Regardless of the injury type, it can result in a fatality or other long-term complications that significantly affect your life.

 

Traumatic Brain Injury Risks in Military Veterans

TBI spares no one. Anyone is at risk of traumatic brain injury, leading to stroke in the long run. These injuries can result from sporting injuries, vehicle accidents, or falling, most common in the elderly. In fact, this condition affects over 60 million people a year worldwide.

However, in over 20 years between 2000 and 2021, there are about 450,000 military service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, according to the Department of Defense. Military service members are more exposed to specific risks such as explosive blasts and combat injuries, making them more susceptible to brain injuries due to trauma.

 

The Link Between TBI and Stroke

The same research has looked at the relationship between traumatic brain injuries and stroke using the data of over 300,000 traumatic brain injury patients listed in the database of the Veterans Health Administration. The data from people at risk for stroke between 2002 and 2019 were compared to an equal number of those who did not suffer from a traumatic brain injury.

Researchers calculated 10.3 strokes per 1,000 people per year among those with traumatic brain injuries compared to 5.7 strokes per 1,000 people per year in those without brain injuries. That’s a significant 80% difference between those who have TBI and those who don’t.

In addition, the researchers adjusted factors that relate to the risk of stroke, including income, education, smoking status, and medical and psychiatric conditions, and the preliminary results found that traumatic brain injury increased the risk of stroke by 69%.

These high numbers, albeit preliminary until the complete research is published, are unfortunate, especially for veterans who risked so much to serve the country. But finding a trusted rehabilitation center for traumatic brain injury recovery in Miami can help survivors heal without future complications.

For people who suffer from TBI, medication use – or lack thereof – could also contribute to the occurrence of stroke after years of injury. Traumatic brain injury can affect a person’s cognitive function; this can be a reason for the survivors to be less adherent to medications or exercises necessary for their recovery. They can also have a tough time remembering things, like taking medications that can prompt a complication such as a stroke in the near future.

 

Activity-based Therapy Can Help TBI and Stroke Survivors

Proper rehabilitation care for TBI survivors plays an important role in avoiding complications in their recovery journey. This is where activity-based therapy plays a crucial role. Both TBI and stroke survivors will need to retrain their brains and the entire nervous systems to move normally again. iAM ABLE Fitness can help patients strengthen motor skills, cognitive function, and social dynamics.

Traumatic brain injury and stroke can affect the brain, affecting all aspects of our lives, including our personality. However, the recovery steps of these two conditions are not the same as other physical injuries because no two brain injuries are the same, and the effect on the person may be very different from others. 

It is vital to watch out for symptoms that can show right away or may only appear within days or weeks after the injury. We also encourage you to find a center for traumatic brain injury recovery in Miami to support your recovery efforts properly.

iAM Able is a trusted recovery center for paralysis brought by different health conditions, including TBI and stroke. We can help put together a personalized recovery plan for you to have the best possible advancement in the recovery from a traumatic brain injury or stroke.

 

Get Reliable Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery in Miami

We greatly appreciate our veterans’ sacrifices, and we are in great debt to your service. We at iAM ABLE Fitness are determined to help you live a quality life free from the limits set by traumatic brain injury or stroke. These conditions can lead to paralysis, especially if the brain does not get retrained and no rehabilitation gets done.

We have put together a free downloadable eBook  to help you find ways to cope better if there’s already an onset of paralysis. iAM ABLE Fitness can also tailor-fit an activity-based therapy that perfectly suits your needs. We make sure we help fill the gap between your traditional therapy options and your maximum potential for optimal recovery in our programs. 

Get in touch with us through our number at 305-283-9717.

 

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

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