A new study published online, in the journal Neurology, suggests that people who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be more likely to suffer a stroke. The author of the study states that the chances of having a stroke are small, but a traumatic brain injury may be as significant a risk factor as is high blood pressure.
Stroke risk is usually a factor for older adults; however, about one in five strokes occur in people under the age of 65. The reasons why younger people have strokes is not well understood. One way to prevent strokes in younger people is to find risk factors, such as TBI.
The study combed through several California databases of adults who had visited emergency departments or had been discharged from a hospital between 2005 and 2009. In all, there were more than 400,000 individuals with TBI. Also included were more than 700,000 people who had trauma but no brain injury. The age of all participating individuals averaged out to approximately 50.
Approximately 28 months after the TBI, 1.1 percent had an ischemic stroke, more than 11,000 people. Among the participants who had trauma but no brain injury, 0.9 percent had a stroke. The difference may not seem insignificant, but it is because the stroke risk for this age group is so small. After the data was adjusted for other risk factors, researchers found that individuals with TBI were 30 percent more likely to have a stroke than those who had trauma but no TBI.
A TBI can have a life changing effect on a person. In some cases, people have to re-learn everything from speaking to tying their shoes. Recovery may take months or even years. Individuals suffering from the effects of a TBI, may be entitled to compensation to pay for their medical bills, lost wages and rehabilitation costs. An Austin brain injury attorney at The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC may be able to assist in obtaining compensation for a person with a TBI – if you’ve been injured, please call us today to learn more about your legal options.
