Brain

Provides a general understanding of the PTSD and how it may overlap with TBI. © Veteran's Health Administration

Discussion of the paths of recovery from traumatic brain injury.

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder that affects thousands of adults and children. A seizure is when the brain has a burst of abnormal electrical signals over a short period of time. These signals cause the body and brain to react in certain ways. This video discusses the causes of epilepsy and what treatments are available.

This is a problem with the electrical activity of your brain's nerve cells. These cells are called "neurons." With epilepsy, they sometimes send out disorganized signals. When this happens, you can suddenly lose control of your body for a brief time. There may be a change in how you act or feel. We call this a "seizure."

Febrile seizures are seizures that occur during a fever. They are one of the most common nervous system problems of childhood. They typically appear between 6 months and 3 years of age. This video looks at the possible causes, typical symptoms, and what you should do as a parent.

If you've been diagnosed with epilepsy, you may be facing some unexpected challenges. But epilepsy doesn't have to take over your life. Use these simple strategies to help control it.

This is a sudden burst of electrical activity in your brain. It overwhelms parts of your brain, usually for no more than a few minutes. Most seizures don't cause lasting harm.

This type of seizure begins in one of the temporal lobes of the brain. It happens because of abnormal electrical activity. Temporal lobe seizures can severely impact your daily life.

Each part of your brain has a different role. The brain controls your breathing, heart rate, digestion, temperature regulation, your five senses, and movement. The brain also allows you to think, handle emotions, and make judgments among many other critical functions.

A brain aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in the wall of th brain artery. If it tears and bleeds, nearby cells can be damaged.

Learn the different types of brain aneurysms.

Understand what a bleeding aneurysm can do to your brain cells.

These tests can help diagnose a brain aneurysm.

A brain cyst is an abnormal fluid-filled sac in the brain. A cyst may contain blood, pus, or other material. In the brain, a cyst may contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF normally bathes and cushions the brain and spinal cord. Often, a brain cyst begins before birth.

A chiari malformation is a problem in the structure of the skull and brain. It is often present at birth.

Level of consciousness is a measure of a person's ability to interact with other people and to react to the surroundings.

A scalp contusion (bruise) can cause swelling, pain, and changes in skin color. Because a scalp contusion is a head injury, monitoring for concussion symptoms may be needed.

Dizziness is a common symptom. It may be described as lightheadedness, spinning, or feeling like you are going to faint. Dizziness can have many causes.

Encephalitis is a viral infection of the brain. It may cause headache, stiff neck, irritability, fever, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting.

Huntington disease is a genetic condition where the cells in specific areas of the brain are gradually destroyed over time.

A febrile seizure is a type of seizure that happens in a child who has a fever. Read on to learn tips for caring for your child at home.

Your child has had another seizure today. Follow these tips when caring for your child at home.

Your child has had a seizure. Read on to learn how to care for your child at home.

Fainting occurs when blood flow to the brain is less than normal. Your healthcare provider believes that your fainting was because of a vagal reaction. This condition is not a sign of serious disease. Here's how to care for yourself at home.

Learn how to care for yourself at home after fainting.

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. Near-fainting is like fainting, but you don't fully pass out. Here's how to care for yourself at home after this occurs.

Near-fainting is feeling like you are going to faint. But you don't lose consciousness. Read on to learn how to care for yourself at home when this occurs.

Learn how to care for yourself when you've had recurrent seizures.

You've had a seizure. A seizure happens when a burst of electrical activity occurs in the brain. Here's what to know about caring for yourself at home.

Brain death means the brain no longer functions. No blood is flowing to the brain. The thinking part of the brain (cerebrum) as well as the part of the brain responsible for breathing and reflexes (brain stem) no longer work.

Cluster headaches are uncommon, but when they occur, they bring on severe head pain. The pain is constant, focused in and around one eye. This video discusses the possible causes of this type of headache and recommended treatments.

Migraine headaches are intense, recurrent headaches that may occur at any age but usually begin between the ages of 10 and 30 years. The precise cause is unknown, but it is hereditary in up to 80 percent of cases. This video gives additional details about migraines, including their symptoms and effective treatments.

A migraine is an intense, throbbing headache that may be accompanied by nausea or dizziness. A migraine can last from hours to days.

If you have migraines, you know how disrupting they can be. Migraine pain can stop you in your tracks. It interferes with things like school and work, and throws your life into turmoil. But there are some things you can do to get relief.

Tension headaches are usually dull, aching, or throbbing headaches often associated with sensations of fullness, tightness, or pressure. The pain involves both sides of the head and neck. In this video, you'll find out more about symptoms, possible causes, and recommended treatments.

This is a common type of headache that can be painful and frustrating for many people. It tends to start in the back of the head and then move forward to surround your head.

This is a chronic headache. It can develop after a whiplash injury (a violent back-and-forth jerking of the neck).

This condition is a distinct type of headache caused by irritation or injury of the occipital nerves. These nerves travel from the base of the skull through the scalp. This condition can result in severe pain and muscle spasms.

Although there are several types of headaches, migraine and tension headaches affect the most people. When you have a headache, it isn't your brain that's hurting. Irritated nerves send pain signals to the brain, which identifies where you hurt and how bad the pain is.

Tension headaches cause a dull, steady pain on both sides of the head and in the neck and the back of the head. The eyes may also feel tired. Tension headache can be caused by lack of sleep, poor posture, eyestrain, stress, and other factors.

With a migraine, you may have nausea and vomiting and be sensitive to light and sound. You may also have warning signs, such as flashing lights or loss of vision, before the pain starts. Cluster headaches recur in groups for days, weeks, or months.

Most headaches aren't serious and can be relieved with self-care. But some headaches may be a sign of another health problem like eye trouble or high blood pressure. To find the best treatment, learn what kind of headaches you get.

Headache pain can start in different structures in the head. The brain itself doesn't hurt, but other parts of the head do. Very rarely are headaches a sign of a serious medical problem.

A migraine headache tends to progress in stages. Learning these stages can help you better understand what is happening. Then you can learn ways to reduce pain and relieve other symptoms. Methods for relieving your symptoms include self-care and medicines.

The first step in preventing migraines is to learn what triggers them. You may then be able to control your triggers to avoid or reduce the severity of your migraines.

A migraine is a type of severe headache. Having a migraine can be very painful. But there are steps you can take to help prevent migraines.

Lifestyle changes are the key to preventing tension-type headaches. Learn what changes in your environment and daily activities can prevent the strain and tension that lead to headaches.

A tension-type headache can develop slowly. Being aware of the symptoms helps you recognize a headache early. Then you can act to reduce pain and ease tension. Methods for relieving your symptoms include self-care and medicine.

Headache affects almost everyone at some time. It's the most common reason people miss days from work or school.

A tension headache can be quite painful. It can last for hours or even days. Here's how to care for this condition at home.

This often severe type of headache is different from other types of headaches in that symptoms other than pain occur with the headache. Learn how to care for yourself at home.

Learn how to care for a sinus headache at home.

A cluster headache is different from a migraine or a tension headache. A cluster headache starts suddenly, without any warning. The pain can become severe within minutes. The headache is often brief. It can last only 15 minutes. But it can also continue for several hours.

After the patch, you should start to feel better soon. Improvement often continues over the next several days.

If there is a loss of too much spinal fluid from a leak at the puncture site after a spinal tap, the spinal fluid pressure goes down and a headache occurs. This headache may be mild or severe. There may also be dizziness, nausea and blurred vision. Here's what you need to know.

You use pain medicines called analgesics to treat your headaches. You are now having more frequent or intense headaches. These are called rebound headaches. They are your body's response to too much pain medicine. Learn about treatment and home care.

As your surgery nears, you may wonder about your future health care needs. You may also have questions about how to prepare for your craniotomy. This information can help.

Learn what to expect the day of your surgery.

Learn about the types of procedures used in craniotomy.

Learn what happens in the hospital after craniotomy.

After a craniotomy, medicines are often prescribed to treat side effects and help you feel better. If you had surgery for a brain tumor, you may also have chemotherapy or radiation.

During a temporal artery biopsy, the healthcare provider will remove a small sample of tissue from one or both of your temporal arteries.

A ventriculoperitoneal shunt is used to drain excess fluid out of a child's skull, which relieves pressure on the brain.

Posterior fossa decompression helps treat Chiari malformation. It is the most common treatment for this condition.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a type of brain surgery. It treats hydrocephalus.

Discussion of the common symptoms of traumatic brain injury.

Lists symptoms, general information, screenings, integrated care, and rehabilitation. © Veteran's Health Administration

This module shows a general overview of TBI: What is it? How widespread is the problem? Why is it an issue for service members? © Veteran's Health Administration

Basic overview/introduction of TBI - where to get help, how to deal with symptoms, causes and potential remedies. © Veteran's Health Administration

Introductory overview of TBI screening process. © Veteran's Health Administration

Mechanisms for treating traumatic brain injury.

Lists ways to approach changes in mood, how to accommodate, and technological resources to help alleviate these changes. © Veteran's Health Administration

Provides a 10-Step layout of how to improve memory while dealing with Concussion/ Mild TBI. © Veteran's Health Administration

Getting restful sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health, and it often takes preparation during the day. Improve your sleep regimen with these healthy sleep tips. © Veteran's Health Administration

This resource provides information to patients with concussion/mild TBI on how to manage dizziness related to their injury. © Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center

This program explains the link between Traumatic Brain Injury and epilepsy and the complicated struggle to deal with epilepsy while simultaneously trying to recover from traumatic brain and other injuries.

This resource briefly outlines the challenges caregivers may face, tips to help with those challenges, and a list of trusted resources for further assistance. © U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a sudden jolt to your head that changes the way your brain works.

A mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, changes the way your brain works for a short time. Learn more about this condition.

A mild traumatic brain injury can temporarily change the way your brain works. Know what to look out for.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a sudden jolt to your head that changes how your brain works. It can cause trouble sleeping.

Because a jolt to your head also causes a jolt to your neck, headaches with neck pain are the most common types of pain after a traumatic brain injury. About half of people with a TBI suffer from headaches.

One of the most common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is slowed thinking. After TBI, you may have trouble remembering things, getting organized, or finding the right words to use when speaking.

You can develop post-traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic brain injury. TBI and PTSD can cause similar problems.

Substance abuse can lead to a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). And having a TBI can lead to substance abuse, even if you haven't had a problem with substance abuse in the past. Here's what you need to know.

If you have a loved one with a Traumatic Brain Injury, it is important to learn as much as you can about the condition so you can take an active role in caregiving.

Most TBI symptoms do and will improve with time. And even though some symptoms may last for years or even a lifetime, you can find ways to cope. Here's what you need to know.

One of the changes that can happen after a traumatic brain injury is depression. Read on to learn about symptoms and treatment.

Dealing with anxiety is a common symptom of a traumatic brain injury. But when fear and worry become so strong that they get in the way of your ability to live your life, you could have an anxiety disorder. Read on to learn more.

Having a traumatic brain injury and getting better after a TBI are life-changing and stressful events. Some people develop a group of symptoms called adjustment disorder after a trauma like a TBI.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to your brain that changes the way your brain works. A TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe. Here are tips to prevent a TBI.

You need to be an active member of your recovery team and work closely with all the other team members. Let's take a look at who might be on your recovery team.

After a brain injury, a person may be less able to coordinate sequential activities, process thought, and use language. At first, therapy may be provided by medical professionals and therapists. But often longer-term support by family and friends is needed. Read on to learn more.

Sometimes an injury damages the part of the brain that controls balance, sight, or hearing. Or memory loss may keep a person from remembering certain sights, sounds, smells, or tastes. Some people have trouble handling abstract ideas such as time. Or they may simply forget what they are doing from one moment to the next. Here are things that can help.

After a brain injury, a person may behave in new or different ways and may have personality changes. Here are things to expect and how you might help.

A traumatic brain injury can affect other parts of the body too. As a result, people who have a brain injury may have little or no control over their bodies. Read on to learn more.

Any brain injury may lead to some changes in the affected person and their family members. Talk and plan with the rest of your family. Your roles may change.

The brain controls the body. You can move and feel because of the brain. And it is the brain that makes you able to think, to show emotions, and to make judgments. The brain is protected by the skull, tissue, and fluid.

Head trauma can be fatal. The effects from some types of head trauma may not appear right away. So it's important to get medical attention for any severe head injury.

It's important to know what to do if you get a concussion. This sheet can help.