What Is Breacher Syndrome?

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Breacher syndrome is best defined as the long-lasting effect of repetitive TBIs (traumatic brain injuries). It is found most commonly in those who undergo frequent exposure to explosions, such as military personnel. We understand more about its psychological and physical toll, as researchers are spending time and resources to study breacher syndrome and its effects now more than ever.  Breachers are skilled individuals who regularly work with explosives. These people primarily work in the army or security and are susceptible to many explosions throughout their working years.

Currently, there are numerous hypotheses and theories surrounding the potential long-term effects of exposure, particularly with regards to exposure to explosions. A growing body of research has shed light on how this type of exposure can affect individuals over time, leading to a range of physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms.

Some potential long-term effects of explosion exposure include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. In addition, individuals who have been exposed to explosions may experience changes in their behavior and personality, such as becoming more irritable, agitated, or impulsive. These changes can have a significant impact on their relationships with others, their ability to work, and their overall quality of life.

The effects of explosion exposure can also vary depending on the individual’s age, gender, and other factors. For example, children who are exposed to explosions may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects on their cognitive development, which could have lifelong consequences. Additionally, military veterans who have been exposed to explosions during combat may be at increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Breacher Syndrome

Many things can cause a traumatic brain injury. There are over 1.7 million patients in the US that suffer brain injuries per year. TBI effects and hurdles can range from temporary to long-lasting. Researchers are still striving to comprehend that breachers’ long-standing exposure to blasts can lead to these forms of brain injuries:

  • Mild TBI and concussion
  • Post-concussion syndrome (PCS)
  • Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
  • CTE – chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Concussion and Mild TBI

A concussion is a form of MTBI. Concussions are often not severe, and symptoms can resolve with time. But if you have different concussions over time, it can have a major impact on your brain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) catalog the indications of MTBI as follows:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness and problems of balancing
  • Blurry and double visions
  • Noise and light irritations
  • The feeling of haziness and grogginess
  • Difficulty in focusing on things

The indications can be physiological, psychological, cerebral, and emotional and may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Sleeping issues
  • Headache or spinning of head
  • Dizziness or laziness
  • Irritability or feeling groggy
  • Affective disturbance can occur too
  • Apathy and personality changes that can be longer than three months

You can look at some evidence-based answers to the question, “What is breacher syndrome?” TBI develops depending on the things mentioned below:

  • How harsh a blast can be
  • The kind of injury you are living through
  • An accumulative impact of blasts
  • A 2020 research demonstrated that the result of exposure to repeated explosions could show up in some ways that will take a lot of work.

The study has shown that more than one hundred thousand people in the military services are exposed to many blasts. Research specialists theorized that outcomes are inconsequential, accumulate with time, and are easier to identify with long-lasting effects. Brain trauma is differently found in every being.

The Brain Injury Association of America has said that:

  • Not all have the same brain traumas.
  • The impacts of brain bruises can be critical and vary for all people.
  • A brain injury’s results depend on severity, cause, and location.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Repeated head-brain injuries over many years can cause CTE. CTE is mostly associated with skilled athletes, such as football players, and severely impacts fighters and security officers. We find there is not enough research on CTE and chronic exposure to explosions. Numerous exposures to blasts can cause CTE. The indications of CTE may include:

  • Amnesia
  • Migraine
  • Fluctuating moods
  • Abnormal behavior, which can also lead to aggression, melancholy, and suicidal ideation
  • Disorientation
  • Problems sustaining attention
  • Clouding of consciousness
  • Dysarthria
  • Shivering
  • Lack of energy

What Symptoms Are Associated with TBI?

Many symptoms following an accident can be associated with traumatic brain injuries. There are certain things to look out for, including:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache and migraines
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Slurred speech
  • Fainting
  • Difficulty remembering
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting

These symptoms vary from person to person and with the severity of the brain injury. However, it’s important to note that not all brain injuries will present with immediate symptoms. If you or a loved one has sustained a head injury, it is always best to receive a medical evaluation as soon as possible following the accident.

Available compensation will be determined on factors such as severity of the injuries, associated medical expenses for current and future treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering. With over 65 years of legal experience, Tatum and Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters’ exclusively focus on personal injuries, including coup contrecoup brain injuries, and driving accidents. We have spent decades building an impeccable reputation for helping brain injury victims and their loved ones recover millions of dollars in compensation.

The Link Between TBI and PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an ailment in some people that develops after a little exposure to severe stress or trauma, such as:

  • War
  • Physical or sexual violence
  • Surviving natural disasters
  • Surviving life-threatening scenarios
  • Facing violence and the death of a loved one

You can be at greater risk of PTSD if you have served in the army or any security force. A traumatic brain injury increases the risk to a greater extent. A few PTSD indications are:

  • Interfering thoughts
  • Mood swings
  • Overwhelming guilt and shame
  • Feeling uninterested in relationships, occupation, and flashbacks
  • Repetitive nightmares
  • Emotionally distressed when recalling past events
  • Difficulty in performing basic tasks such as eating, concentrate, or sleeping
  • Substance abuse or other dangerous behavior
  • Suicidal thoughts

Research Studies on Breachers, TBIs and Neurodegenerative Diseases

There’s ongoing research on the fact that TBI may increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as:

However, a 2018 research study showed that more than ten million cases found no linkage between TBI and neurodegenerative diseases. In comparison, a 2019 theory suggests that TBI can cause a loss of cerebrum matter and can lead to dementia. The research analysts advised that doctors need MRI tests and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to look at the brain.

Researchers have also found long-standing changes in the brains from mild TBI and severe TBI; in linkage to Alzheimer’s disease. CTE also has a strong impact on your brain. Due to the Alzheimer’s association, with some time, CTE may cause Parkinson’s symptoms and dementia. Army-funded research from 2021 also showed that blasts affect neurons, and also increase the danger of Alzheimer’s disease.

Furthermore, another study mentioned explosions as a danger factor for dementia related to TBI. More research also indicated the long-lasting brain changes in retired army veterans uncovered to blasts, even if they don’t have TBI symptoms. Therefore, more research is still needed, but for now, the evidence supports that this can be a problem for breachers.

Managing the Symptoms of Breacher Syndrome

Although not much medical and social research is available on the subject, the following measures can be taken to avoid the onset of breacher syndrome:

  • Educate and reassure the person.
  • Give knowledge to the people.

The National Institutes of Health stated the following to help you to improve from the outcomes of TBI, which is most primarily associated with breacher syndrome:

  • Psychological counseling is vital to alleviate coping mechanisms and social anxiety.
  • Cognitive therapy: It helps with memory, learning, and decision-making skills.
  • Medication: medications are necessary as it helps in resolving chemical complexities in the cerebrum because of Traumatic brain injury.

Hire the Best Lawyers to Claim Compensation for Breacher’s Syndrome

Rehab and medication of TBI and breacher syndrome can amount to a hefty amount. You should ask for the deserved compensation from the relevant departments who have become a cause of your or your loved one’s breacher syndrome or TBI. For this purpose, you should ideally contact a reputable law firm to demand your claim and initiate legal proceedings scrupulously. We will be happy to help you if you or someone you know has a brain injury. Do not hesitate to contact North Carolina’s famous traumatic brain injury law firm, Tatum & Atkinson, “the Heavy Hitters,” for a free consultation. Call (800) 529-0804 or contact us online whenever you can for a confidential case evaluation. Let us take care of you and your family. You owe us nothing if you don’t get compensated.