When you hear someone you know has a traumatic brain injury, you automatically think the worst. There have been a number of cases that you may have read about where active people have gotten up after banging their heads, only to die hours later. This is such a scary thought, so having some idea on the types of injuries that the brain can suffer along with the levels can help you identify if there is a problem and seek the necessary medical attention.

One of the most important things to bear in mind is that each injury is unique and while two people may experience the exact same injury, how they respond to treatment and recovery rate may vary. The force of the injury will determine the level of the injury, which in turn relates to the recovery period and seriousness of the situation.

Concussions are the most common traumatic brain injuries which are usually caused by a direct blow to the head. This can be a fall and hitting the head on the ground to something falling on the head. This may show in cases with open and closed injuries and the patient may or may not lose consciousness. The same applies that they may or may not be dazed and confused, as each person is different.

In some cases those suffering from concussion will have bleeding or swelling of the brain or even experience a skull fracture, while others may just receive a knock which can spiral them into a concussion state. If you feel someone you know or you may have a concussion, it's advisable to seek medical advice and visit your doctor, have someone with the person or with you for forty eight hours after the injury in case symptoms get worse.

Contusions are when there is a direct impact to the brain which causes bruising or bleeding. In these cases surgery is often required to remove or relieve the brain bleed or allow space for the swelling to take place. As the swelling reduces, the head is stitched up again.

Co-ups is a contusion to the side of the head which also affects the other side. When you hit your head on the one side, but you have bleeding or swelling on both sides. This often requires surgery to relieve the swelling and bleeding on the brain to ensure a good recovery.

Diffuse Axonal is when the head is shaken which tears the brain structure. This is often seen in motor vehicle accidents and can leave the patient with temporary or permanent brain damage. This is one of the more serious types of traumatic brain injuries which take time to determine how the patient will respond to treatment and their outcome moving forward.

Penetration is when an object is penetrated into the brain and skull. This is often seen with gunshot victims and doesn't always have a positive outcome.

In addition to the types of traumatic brain injuries they also come in various levels, which determine the seriousness of the injury and the recovery success and time. Mild traumatic brain injuries usually relate to light concussions, which can be treated at home with excellent recovery times.

Moderate traumatic brain injuries relate to those which take longer to heal, but with a good success rate. Someone suffering from a moderate injury may be confused for a few days to weeks, while severe injuries can leave patients with permanent brain damage and can even lead to death.

If you know of anyone who has hit their head, rather than waiting it out, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.