How to Protect Your Brain from Injury

Take these steps to make it less likely you’ll get a concussion.

Brain injuries are a serious thing. Whether you get a relatively small bump on your head or are involved in a more traumatic injury, the health of your brain is at stake. And while you can’t prevent every possibility that may cause an injury to your brain, there are steps you can take to keep your brain as protected as possible.

“Concussions are often discussed because they are a common type of head injury affecting all ages,” says Keith Cochran MD, neurologist at PIH Health. “They can be caused by a direct strike to the head, or by rapid acceleration-deceleration motion.” A concussion may be referred to by healthcare personnel as a mild form of traumatic brain injury, since it doesn’t typically result in death, but these injuries can be anything but mild.

What are the most common causes of concussion?

You may think of concussions as something that only happens during sports, since we see them occurring quite often on a playing field or court. But concussions may occur due to other traumas, too. “One common cause of concussion is falls, especially in older adults,” says Dr. Cochran. “Motor vehicle accidents are another cause.”

How can you protect your brain from injury?

There’s no way to guarantee that you’ll never get a concussion in your life, but there are steps you can take to make it less likely that your brain, as well as the brains of your children or parents, will sustain serious injury. Doing these things helps to protect your brain:

• Sports and physical activities – Wear appropriate headgear when playing sports, such as football, hockey or baseball, or participating in physical activities such as skating, snowboarding, skiing, or rock climbing.
• Moving vehicles or objects – Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, motorized cycle, scooter, skateboard, snowmobile, or horse.
• Motor vehicles – Wear a seat belt every time you’re in a motor vehicle. Seat belts should be worn in both the front and back seats, no matter how short a trip you are going on—even if it’s just down the street. Secure children in car seats or booster seats until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Children under 12 should always ride in the back seat.
• Falls – There are a number of ways you can prevent falls. These include:
  • ­ Doing strength and balance exercises
  • ­ Walking, getting up from a chair, and getting in and out of vehicles slowly
  • ­ Paying attention to your surroundings
  • ­ Not stretching awkwardly for things out of reach
  • ­ Making sure your home is well-lit
  • ­ Removing items in your home that you may trip over
  • ­ Installing grab bars in the bathroom
  • ­ Placing non-slip mats on floors that may get wet
  • ­ Getting eyes checked yearly
  • ­ Reviewing medications to see if any may make you dizzy or sleepy

Taking preventative measures to protect your brain as much as possible makes it less likely you’ll have to face the consequences of a serious head injury. To find a doctor, visit PIHHealth.org/Doctors

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Keith Thomas Cochran MD

Keith Cochran MD is board-certified in neurology and subspecializes in movement disorders. Dr. Cochran enjoys listening to patients explain what troubles them and uses that information, along with what he knows about the nervous system, to address their symptoms and concerns. “Neurology to me is the most exciting specialty,” says Dr. Cochran, “The nervous system is complex yet intuitive and there are vast opportunities to help those afflicted by neurologic disease and to make advancements in the field.” Dr. Cochran chose to pursue a career in medicine because it provides a unique opportunity to use science to make a direct and positive impact on the lives of patients and their families. He believes that his scientific knowledge allows him to improve the quality of life for his patients. In his personal time, Dr. Cochran likes to jog, play the piano and watch popular movies.

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