March 2009 is Brain Injury Awareness Month in Connecticut

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 25, 2009 -
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Hartford, Connecticut – March 1, 2009 --

The Brain Injury Association of Connecticut is announcing that during Brain Injury Awareness Month, BIAC will be working to educate Connecticut residents of all ages about the potential dangers of the injury known as a concussion. Julie Peters, the organization’s Executive Director says, “We hope that dispelling the myths regarding concussive injuries will also serve to decrease the number of individuals destined to experience ongoing, perhaps even lifelong, disabilities as the result of an undiagnosed, and thus untreated, concussion.”

To follow are some of the concussion facts most people do not know.

• A concussion is NOT simply a bump on the head.  All concussions
 are a type of traumatic brain injury.

• A concussion is the most common type of brain injury sustained in sports.

• Most concussions do NOT involve loss of consciousness.

• You can sustain a concussion even if you do NOT hit your head.

• A concussion cannot be seen — but the symptoms may be visible right
  away or even days or weeks later.

• Multiple concussions can cause cumulative, long-lasting life changes.

• Concussions typically do NOT appear in neuroimaging studies such
 as MRI or CAT Scans.

An undiagnosed concussion can affect one’s ability to function at school, at work, or in everyday activities.   Those seeking to learn more about the signs and symptoms of a concussion, as well as what to do after a diagnosis of concussion, are encouraged to visit the BIAC web site at www.biact.org for downloadable information and related links, or to call BIAC at 860.721.8111 (toll-free at 800.278-8242).