JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – March marks Brain Injury Awareness Month, and a local neurologist is dispelling common misconceptions about brain injuries.
Nationwide, more than five million people are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability.
Joseph ‘Tyler’ Smith’s life changed at the drop of a dime in 2005 while overseas in Afghanistan.
Smith was serving in the Army and suffered a stroke, leaving him with brain damage that affected his memory, and emotional regulation, and the right side of his body.
“When I first had my issue, I was kind of angry at the world and not going outside,” Smith said.
Smith was diagnosed with pseudobulbar.
He learned how to manage the diagnosis with the help of the Wounded Warrior Project and Bastion Community of Resilience.
“It’s amazing to get rid of depression. “My friends have all been there for me it’s a real blessing,” Smith said.
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More than 185,000 veterans who use Veterans Affairs for their health care have been diagnosed with at least one trauma brain injury. However, 5.3 million Americans are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability.
“One common misconception that I see is people don’t really realize that concussions which are mild brain injuries which are also brain injuries,” Doctor Syed Asad, a neurologist in Jacksonville, said.
Asad said anyone can get a brain injury but there are ways to prevent it.
“Preventative measures depends on which context you get your brain injury in, for example what sports. Its usually contact or combat sports. So, one easy thing to say is don’t participate in combat sports,” Asad said.
Dr. Asad said brain injuries can also happen in everyday life during everyday tasks like driving. He said living a healthy lifestyle is one of the key ways to help your body recover in case it does happen.