Many people are surprised to learn that severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) affects families and friends across the United States. While there is significant attention paid to the incidents and accidents that lead to STBI, less focus is placed on understanding STBI and what it actually is. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken steps to better explain STBI through an article dedicated specifically to the condition.
As the CDC explains, STBI is the cause of death for permanent injury for a number of people in the United States. In 2010, the time of the last census, the CDC estimates that 2.5 million people sustained STBI and approximately 5.3 million Americans have SBTI. In simplistic form, STBI can be defined as permanent neurological damage. Often, STBI requires extensive hospitalization and all STBI individuals need ongoing medical treatment, but the degree of STBI varies from person to person. How it affects an individual’s life, from cognitive abilities to sensory capability, will depend on the circumstances of the injury and individual’s recovery.
To learn more about STBI and how to support a friend or family member with STBI join The Just A Breath Away Foundation’s Circle of Hope Community.
