While lots of attention is paid to health concerns like AIDS, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, less is given to others. One of those, traumatic brain injury, affects more Americans each year than AIDS, MS or spinal cord injuries, The Tennessean of Nashville reports.
Two million people suffer brain trauma a year, according to the national Brain Injury Association. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 5.3 million Americans live with disabilities resulting from such injury, the story says.
Car wrecks are the leading cause of brain injuries, the paper reports, accounting for about half the cases. Many others are caused by sports and recreational activities.
The CDC has tips on preventing brain injuries, including wearing seatbelts in cars and helmets while bike riding. The Brain Injury Association has descriptions of different types of injuries.
