Types of Damage
in isolation or as part of the surgical
procedure. A specialist may be involved in
embolization.
When the brain strikes the skull or twists on
the brain stem, brain tissue tears. This injury
may then cause a second type of damage,
such as bleeding or swelling in the brain.
Healthcare providers try to control the
second type of damage to help limit longterm problems.
Understanding
Traumatic Brain Injury
Breathing, blood flow, and movement are all
controlled by the brain. The brain also allows
you to think, handle emotions, and make
judgments. After an injury, certain parts of
the brain (or the links between these parts)
may stop working. Some mental or physical
skills may be lost. The loss may be short- or
long-term. The full effects of a brain injury
may not appear for months or even years.
Tearing: If nerve fibers in the brain tissue
tear, signals can’t pass between the brain
and body. Lost signals mean lost skills or
body functions.
Bleeding: A torn blood vessel may leak into
nearby tissue. This kills brain cells and can
lead to a buildup of blood (hematoma). If
this blood presses on the brain, it can cut off
blood to other cells. These cells also die.
How Injury Happens
The skull does not have to be harmed for the
brain to the injured. Injury can occur when
the brain strikes the skull. In many cases, the
brain rebounds from the first impact and hits
the opposite side of the skull. Sometimes the
brain twists on the brain stem.
Swelling: The brain has almost no room to
expand inside the skull. If the brain swells, it
may press against the skull. As the pressure
increases, the brain begins to stop working.
Weight Management:
Healthy Eating
Understanding Your
Cholesterol Numbers
Food is your body’s fuel. You can’t live
without it. The key is to give your body
enough nutrients and energy without eating
too much. Reading food labels can help you
make healthy choices. Also, learn new eating
habits to manage your weight.
The higher your blood cholesterol, the
greater your risk for heart attack or stroke.
That’s why you need to know your cholesterol
level. If it’s high, you can take steps to bring
it down. Eating the right foods and getting
enough exercise can help. Some people also
need medication to control their cholesterol.
Your healthcare provider can help you get
started on a plan to control your cholesterol.
Eat Less Fat
A gram of fat has almost twice the calories
of a gram of protein or carbohydrates. Try
to balance your food choices so that 20%
to 35% of your calories come from total fat.
This means an average of 2 ½ to 3 ½ grams
of fat for each 100 calories you eat.
Checking Your Cholesterol
Your cholesterol is checked with a simple blood
test. The results tell you how much cholesterol
you have in your blood. Get checked as often
as your healthcare provider suggests. As you
work to lower your cholesterol, your numbers
will change slowly. But they will change. Be
patient and stay on track.
Eat More Fiber
High-fiber foods are digested more slowly
than low-fiber foods, so you feel full longer.
Try to get 31 grams of fiber each day. Foods
high in fiber include:
• Vegetables and fruits
• Whole-grain or bran breads, pastas, and
cereals
• Legumes (beans) and peas
Your Total Cholesterol Number
A blood test will give you a number for the
total amount of cholesterol in your blood.
The higher this number, the more likely it is
that cholesterol will build up in your blood
vessels. For your health, it is suggested that
your total cholesterol be lower than 200.
Even if your cholesterol is just slightly high,
you are at increased risk for health problems.
My total cholesterol is: ___________________
As you begin to eat more fiber, be sure to
drink plenty of water to keep your digestive
system working smoothly.
Tips
Your Lipid Numbers
• Don’t skip meals. This often leads to
overeating later on. It’s best to spread your
eating throughout the day.
• Eat a variety of foods, not just a few favorites.
• If you find yourself eating when you’re not
hungry, ask yourself why. Many of us eat
when we’re bored, stressed, or just to be
polite. Listen to your body. If you’re not
hungry, get busy doing something else
instead of eating.
• Eat slower. It takes 20 minutes for your
stomach to tell your brain that it’s full.
• Pay attention to what you eat. Don’t read
or watch TV during your meal.
11
Total cholesterol is just one part of the story.
Cholesterol is made up of different kinds of
fats, or “lipids”. If your total cholesterol is
high, knowing your lipid profile is important.
The two most important lipids are HDL and
LDL. Lipids are checked during a “fasting”
blood test (you don’t eat for a certain
amount of time before the test is done). And
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