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If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury, you might have wondered about its long term impacts on health. If the injury was quite serious, you may even have thought about how it might affect your lifespan. The length of time one can live after a brain injury really depends on how acute the injury is, its precise location in the brain, and the quality of the treatment received.
Minor brain injuries, like concussions, are rarely fatal, but severe ones do pose a threat. Research shows that people who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) tend to live shorter lives than those who have not experienced such an injury. A study compared the survival rates of TBI patients with both the general population and a control group of people without a history of head injury. It found that TBI survivors had a 47% higher risk of death compared to non-TBI individuals.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
When a sudden trauma, such as a blow or jolt to the head, causes damage to the brain, it is known as a TBI. The brain is jostled inside the skull, which can lead to bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and other physical damage. Its severity can vary from mild cases (like a brief change in consciousness) to catastrophic cases (which may include coma or amnesia after the injury).
Some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries are:
- Concussion
- Contusion
- Diffuse axonal injury (tearing of brain tissue)
- Coup-contrecoup injury (injury the site of impact and on the opposite side of the brain)
- Penetrating injury (from a sharp object breaking the skull and entering the brain tissue)
- Anoxic brain injury (when the brain is deprived of oxygen)
- Second impact syndrome (a second concussion that occurs before the first one heals)
- Shaken baby syndrome (caused by violent shaking in infants)
Symptoms from such a brain injury may appear immediately or develop gradually over several hours or days after the injury. They could be in the form of physical signs (headaches, nausea, dizziness, seizures, loss of consciousness); mental signs (problems with memory, thinking, speaking, reading); or behavioral signs (mood swings, depression, aggression, lack of motivation).
Factors That Increase the Risk of Death From a TBI
Nearly half of the people who suffer a TBI either struggle more with their daily activities or die within five years of their injury. Even for those who have received treatment and rehabilitation in time, their TBI life expectancy is found to be shorter by around nine years compared to those without a TBI. This condition also makes them more vulnerable to other health issues that can be fatal, like seizures or infections.
In a study that spanned over 30 years, it was found that the average time from when someone had a head injury to when they died was roughly 4.7 years.
Here are some factors that can increase the risk of fatal outcomes after sustaining a traumatic brain injury:
Speed of medical response and quality of care
Patients who are able to receive rapid emergency care for their TBI are found to have a much better survival rate. The first hour after injury, also known as the “golden hour,” is critical for minimizing the amount of brain damage. Also, access to advanced medical care – including neurosurgical interventions and intensive care facilities – can mean the difference between life and death in severe cases.
Nature of the brain injury
A concussion, from a minor hit to the head, might not cause lasting harm. However, an anoxic brain injury, where the brain does not get sufficient oxygen for an extended period, is far more dangerous. Statistics show that permanent brain damage can start within 4-6 minutes of oxygen deprivation.
Injury location in the brain
Certain brain areas are more vulnerable than others. Damage to the brainstem, for example, can be particularly dangerous as it controls basic life functions like breathing and heart rate. Injuries here can disrupt these vital functions to an irreversible degree.
Age factor
As we age, our brain’s ability to recover diminishes, and other age-related health issues can complicate long-term prognosis of traumatic brain injuries. Someone over the age of 60 with a TBI is more likely to suffer from complications like brain bleeding, which younger individuals might more easily withstand.
Pre-existing health conditions
People with existing issues like heart disease or diabetes face an increased risk because their bodies are already under strain. Substance abuse can also exacerbate brain injuries, which can make recovery harder and heighten the likelihood of a fatal outcome.
How to Increase Life Expectancy After Traumatic Brain Injury
Once the brain has been injured, it is not possible to completely eliminate the fatal risk, but you can definitely improve the odds of a better recovery with the following steps:
- Get medical attention without delay. Early treatment can stop further damage and reduce complications.
- Make sure your care team includes critical care specialists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and rehabilitation specialists to address every part of recovery – physical, mental, and emotional.
- Eat foods (and supplements) rich in omega-3 fatty acids, creatine, choline, vitamin E, zinc, vitamin D, magnesium, B vitamins (B3, B6, B9, B12), curcumin, and selenium to support brain healing.
- If you need to take medications for seizures or pain linked to the TBI, make sure your doctors keep a close watch on any potential side effects.
- Go to every follow-up appointment; it will help identify any new complications early, track how you are doing, and adjust treatments if needed.
- If you have been ordered to undergo a rehabilitation program (for physical, speech, or other therapy), follow it strictly.
Contact Maho Prentice, LLP for Your Free TBI Case Review Today
You may have a traumatic brain injury case for damages if sustained in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Maho Prentice, LLP is a leading personal injury law firm in Southern California with offices in Santa Barbara and Ventura County. Our experience spans over two decades, during which we have obtained more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Trust us to manage the tough discussions with insurance companies, so you can focus on your recovery. Contact us at 805-962-1930 or reach us online for a free consultation to review your claim.