March is a happening month. St Patrick’s Day, Daylight Savings Time, the first day of Spring, National Meatball Day (it’s true) – a lot is going on. It takes a healthy, happy brain to keep it all organized. This is probably not why March is also devoted to Brain Injury Awareness Month, but it’s nice to think about.
And, hey, thinking is a pretty big deal, don’t you… agree? This is why you need to defend your head and protect your brain, to ensure your mental acuity and longevity for years to come.
There are two components to protecting your brain – there’s the immediate and the physical; warding off traumatic brain injury (TBI) by making sure that nothing damages, deteriorates, perforates, or penetrates your skull – and then there are the bigger picture concerns of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to ward off brain disease.
Here are just four thoughtful ways to protect your brain, and your overall health, for years to come:
- Defend that dome. Traumatic brain injuries can occur from any direct blow to the head and are frequently seen during sporting activities. Take precautions to protect your brain and your head from injury whenever at work or play.
- Be sure to wear a helmet when playing football and other sports or when riding a bicycle, skateboard, or motorcycle.
- Make sure seatbelts are used consistently – and properly – whenever driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
- Always use handrails when navigating staircases.
- Parents – install safety gates and guardrails at the tops of staircases to prevent accidents and falls.
- Make sure all playground activity for children is supervised, and frequent parks that implement protective ground cover near play equipment.
- Keep floors clear of tripping hazards and slip-resistant bathmats near showers.
- Have your eyes and hearing checked regularly to ward off preventable balance issues and falls as you age.
- Exercise more. It’s interesting how exercise keeps on coming up regarding one’s overall health – whether regarding the brain or the heart or so many other bodily functions. Gotta be something to that, wouldn’t you say? Moderate exercise, five days a week, somewhere in the ballpark of 30 minutes per day is absolutely essential to a healthier lifestyle. Cardio workouts that get the blood pumping increase its flow to the brain and the rest of the body, and that keeps everything working seamlessly together.
- Get plenty of sleep. Memory, concentration, coordination – they all take a big hit the less sleep we get, and medical conditions like sleep apnea can further complicate things. Additionally, avoiding caffeinated beverages and alcohol several hours before your normal bedtime can help facilitate better rest. Experts recommend six to eight hours of solid sleep per night, and if you’re not tallying those numbers at the moment, it’s important to make lifestyle adjustments or to see a physician who can help you pinpoint and eliminate existing obstacles.
- Eat better brain foods. A balanced diet is, of course, integral to improving your cognitive and mental health, while warding off numerous conditions and diseases. Some foods that are beneficial to the brain include fatty fish (tuna and salmon come to mind), eggs, nuts, blueberries, broccoli, and even dark chocolate.
FirstCall Medical Center specializes in treating sprains and strains, cuts, scrapes, infections, burns, rashes, minor injury treatment, X-rays, and so much more. Talk to us about ways you can protect your brain and live a healthier life. Schedule an appointment today.
