Concussions From Extreme Weather Accidents
Concussions, knowingly or unknowingly, can result from automobile accidents caused by the extreme weather conditions our country has been experiencing over the past few months. Blizzards in the West, the Lake effect in the Mid-West, major snow storms in the Northeast, white-out conditions in the East and flooding in the South have caused the greatest number of automobile accidents in years.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, 70 percent of the nation’s roads are located in snowy regions. A snowy region is considered an area that receives more than five inches of snowfall each year, on average. In addition, nearly 70 percent of the U.S. population lives in these snowy regions. That means that lots of us have to travel in wintery conditions.
The statistics, annually:
- Over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle accidents on snowy, slushy or icy pavement.
- Nearly 900 people are killed and nearly 76,000 people are injured in vehicle crashes during snowfall or sleet.
- 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement and 15 percent happen during snowfall or sleet.
What do these statistics mean?
These statistics mean that 1 out of every 4 people have sustained a concussion and do not realize it has happened to them (from “Coping with Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury“). They know their car is a wreck. They know that their body may hurt from the crash. However, the majority of people think concussions are caused by a blow to the head, as seen in boxing, football or baseball injuries, not necessarily from whiplash or rotation of the head.
In an automobile accident you can sustain a direct blow (4), or whiplash (2), or if you were broadsided (hit from the side), it can cause your head to rotate (1); while (3) is a coup-contra-coup, where the brain is injured in the front and back. A direct hit to the front or the back of your head can cause the brain to move to rapidly with such force causing injury to both the front and back of the brain.
What is a Concussion?
Concussion, also called mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI ), is defined as a temporary disruption of brain function that results in an alteration or loss of consciousness, and one or more of the memory symptoms listed in the Concussion Symptoms table below. Concussions are the most common type of brain injury and occur from a variety of causes. They can cause many short-term and long-term problems, as well as a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Every 13 seconds there is another concussion in the US.
Lots of people wonder, what are concussions or how do I know if I sustained a concussion? Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a concussion occurred. You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. There aren’t any outward visible signs, although there may be cuts, scraps, and bruises from the auto accident that caused the concussion. Sometimes the signs and symptoms are so subtle, they are missed altogether, leaving the concussion to go undiagnosed and left untreated. Concussion symptoms range from mild to severe, and they can last for hours, days, weeks, or longer. Even a minor dysregulation of the brain can have a serious and significant impact on one’s life.
Symptoms of Concussion
If you were in an automobile accident and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below, you likely sustained a concussion and were not aware of it. If these symptoms have lasted more than a few weeks, then you are experiencing Post-Concussion Syndrome or PCS.
Physical Issues
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Hearing problems
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Nightmares/Flashbacks
- Nausea and vomiting
- Falling asleep unexpectedly
- Hand or leg tremors
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound
- Sexual dysfunction or loss of sex drive
- Gait imbalance
- Ringing in the ears
- Loss of taste and smell
Behavioral Issues
- Confrontational attitude
- Explosive temper
- Fearfulness
- Impatience
- Thoughtlessness
- Hypervigilance
Emotional Issues
- Depression
- Agitation
- Apathy
- Irritability
- Fear of “going crazy”
- Frustration or anger
- Guilt or shame
- Feelings of helplessness
- Anxiety
- Frequent mood changes
Cognitive Issues
- Distractibility
- Disorientation
- Temporary Amnesia
- Problems with Speaking
- Poor Judgment
- Slow Thinking
- Inability to Focus Attention
- Problems Rementering What You Heard
- Word Finding Problems
- Feelings of Confusion
- Long or Short Term Memory Problems
Specific Treatments for Consequences of a Concussion: PCS
The description of Concussion Treatments is by insurance coverage: Conventional, Complimentary, and Alternative. This does not suggest that one type of treatment is better. Instead it is based on what your health insurance covers. In addition to the symptoms listed above, there is a wide range of consequences resulting from a concussion. These consequences include speech and language problems, academic performance problems, post-injury psychological reactions and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Alcohol, Drug, and Substance Abuse, Psychiatric Disorders and Grieving.
For an in-depth explanation of how each type of treatment effect a specific area, please read Coping with Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. The book contains in-depth coverage, for each concussion consequence, that has been proofread by the leading authorities in each specific field.
Dr. Diane®’s Approach to PCS Treatment
You are a unique person. How a concussion affects your brain is as unique as you are. Are you a hearty, reactive, or sensitive person? What type of childhood did you have? Each person’s life history has to be taken into account when determining the best course of treatment. How often have you been prescribed medications that had many side effects, only because the person prescribing the medication or treatment did NOT take into account how you may react to it?
Dr. Diane® and her Brain Health Experts work as a unified team. They strongly believe that regardless of the presenting problem or situation, you as a person should be seen from the five distinct views that make up our approach: physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and energy. Often these areas intertwine and each needs to be addressed, yet Dr. Diane looks for the core issue. Then, your individual treatment program is developed based on conventional, complimentary, and alternative treatment methods. These methods are often modified and customized to meet your unique needs and goals as you progress in regaining your life.
First Step to Overcoming Your Symptoms – Consult Dr. Diane!
Schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Diane. She will review your symptoms and determine what treatments you need to improve your specific symptoms. In addition, she will recommend clinicians in your local area that can provide the recommended treatments. In addition, if there is a personal injury law suit, Dr. Diane is a forensic psychologist and can provide both cost analysis of the needed services and is an expert witness in such cases.
Get Help Today!
Dr. Diane® Brain Health utilizes state of the art and cutting edge technology, and the Solutions and ResourcesSM to get you feeling your best. The Dr. Diane® integrative team of brain health experts is trained in conventional, complementary, and alternative specialties. This team, using her 5 Prong Approach, will provide you with a customized concussion treatment program because Dr. Diane® sees each person as a unique individual and knows that one method does not fit everyone.
If you want an end to your suffering from the various symptoms of a concussion and PCS, consult Dr. Diane®, to develop a unique Concussion Treatment plan designed specifically for you!
There is a Way!™
For more information please call 800-500-9971 or fill out our contact form.
Dr Diane, thanks so much for reassuring me that you are aware of the risk of pituitary damage, which can happen even after concussion. I felt I’d like to mention it here, because as you know, some of the symptoms you list above can be a consequence of pituitary hormone deficiencies – for example, growth hormone deficiency can cause fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression, inability to focus attention: thyroid deficiency (which can be a consequence of pituitary damage) can cause tinnitus and dizziness; and LH/FSH deficiency (which means the gonads don’t produce the sex hormones) can obviously cause sexual dysfunction. It’s so important to have the right tests, because treatment can make a big difference.
Yes you are correct, there are many different factors that can cause these symptoms. That is why it is important to receive proper care. We have an excellent endocrinologist on our team.