{"id":2311,"date":"2021-04-16T13:42:21","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T17:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/?p=2311"},"modified":"2021-04-16T13:42:24","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T17:42:24","slug":"sleep-is-crucial-for-recovery-from-traumatic-brain-injuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/sleep-is-crucial-for-recovery-from-traumatic-brain-injuries\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep Is Crucial for Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injuries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your body needs sufficient sleep for a variety of reasons, including to boost your mood, concentration, productivity, immune function and cardiovascular health. However, there may be no time more important to get enough sleep<\/a> than after suffering from a traumatic brain injury, like a concussion after a crash on Highway 60<\/a> or from a sports injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the Research Shows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One study conducted at Oregon Health & Science University that was published in the Journal of Neurotrauma<\/em><\/a>in February 2021 found that good sleep plays a key role when recovering from traumatic brain injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the study, researchers performed MRI scans on military veterans in order to observe the perivascular spaces surrounding the blood vessels in the brain. These spaces tend to enlarge as we age, and large spaces are often associated with dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers found that veterans who had larger perivascular spaces had experienced poorer sleep and reported more post-concussive symptoms, while those with smaller spaces tended to get better sleep and exhibit fewer post-concussive symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting Study<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another study, published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation<\/em><\/a>in 2018, found that young student athletes who had disturbed sleep and sports-related concussions experienced worse migraines, cognitive symptoms and neuropsychological symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study authors wrote that their \u201cfindings emphasize that the continued presence of low sleep quantity and sleep disturbances in youth athletes with [sports-related concussions] should be a specific indicator to health professionals that these athletes are at an increased risk of protracted recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Better Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re recovering from a brain injury or just want to boost your physical, mental and emotional health, it\u2019s important to practice good sleep habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n