What You Should Know About Concussions Fact Sheet

This fact sheet is designed to educate service members about concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury.

Concussion Signs and Symptoms Fact Sheet

This fact sheet identifies major physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms of concussion and provides coping and recovery tips. Also available in Spanish.

Help With Ongoing Symptoms After Concussion Fact Sheet

Although the majority of service members recover from concussion with little to no intervention, some experience symptoms beyond the first three months after their initial injury. This guide addresses why symptoms continue to persist in some patients and how they can cope or seek additional help.

What You Should Know About Blast Overpressure Fact Sheet

Does your military occupation involve working with heavy weapon systems that leave you feeling unwell or not like yourself? You could be experiencing the effects of blast overpressure exposure. Learn more about how you can recognize, limit, and report your blast overpressure exposure.

Managing Headaches Following Concussion/Mild TBI Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides non-drug options to help those diagnosed with a mild TBI and associated post-traumatic headache manage their symptoms. 

Medication Overuse Headache Following Concussion Fact Sheet

This fact sheet explains the basics of this headache type as well as treatment and prevention strategies. It should be reviewed with your health care provider, as it has space for the clinician to outline a treatment plan.

Managing Neck Pain Following Concussion Fact Sheet

Neck pain can occur together with headaches following a concussion. This fact sheet provides information to help patients manage neck pain.

TBI and PTSD Fact Sheet

This fact sheet defines concussion, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other stress-related disorders and explains how overlapping symptoms occur. Learn why it’s important to seek out treatment for both conditions and discover helpful advice on how to manage symptoms.

Head Injury and Dizziness Fact Sheet

This fact sheet can be used to educate patients with concussion on how to manage dizziness related to their injury. To see videos of the exercises described in the fact sheet, visit the Hearing Center of Excellence page on "Vestibular Home Exercises."

Vision Problems After Concussion Fact Sheet

This fact sheet helps concussed service members understand vision problems and provides insight into treatment options.

Healthy Sleep and TBI Fact Sheet

This fact sheet offers service members who experience sleep problems relating to TBI with healthy tips that can likely improve their sleep.

TBI and Changes in Behavior, Personality or Mood Fact Sheet

This fact sheet can be used to educate injured service members and their caregivers on how to manage changes in mood related to TBI.

Ways to Improve Your Memory Fact Sheet

This fact sheet can help service members with concussion to manage memory problems related to their injury.

TBI and Alcohol Misuse Fact Sheet

This fact sheet describes how drinking can impact service members with TBI. It also provides resources for managing alcohol consumption. 

TBI may cause physical, cognitive and behavioral changes that can be difficult to adapt to for both the individual and family members. These changes are usually temporary, but in some cases, recovery becomes a lifelong process of adjustments and accommodations for the injured person and the family. People with TBI can lead joyful and meaningful lives with the aid of friends and loved ones who can provide ongoing support and encouragement.

Caregivers are integral members of the recovery care team and support patients in the health care setting and in the home.

Providers should recommend this guide to caregivers for additional information on TBI and how to support their service member or veteran, particularly newly diagnosed patients. The guide can help the caregiver understand clinical terminology used by providers and empower them to advocate for their service member.

Topics in the 2021 caregiver guide include:

• Understanding TBI: This section includes information on types and diagnosis of TBI, the health care team, and what the recovery process may look like.
• Caregiver Strategies for Managing the Effects of TBI: This section includes information about understanding and addressing the different symptoms of TBI for the caregiver.
• Becoming a Family Caregiver: This section covers starting the caregiver journey, becoming an advocate, and learning how to take care of oneself.
• Caregiver Resources: This section includes helpful links for caregivers, printable forms and a glossary.

Patient and Leadership Guide

This form is part of the Progressive Return to Activity protocol and is filled out with the patients' health care provider. The form helps service members and their leadership understand their TBI diagnosis and the protocol for return to duty.

HEADS: Protect Your Strongest Weapon

The HEADS acronym helps promote awareness of the key symptoms of concussion, also known as mild TBI.