I believe that excessive alcohol can contribute to dire consequences for the brain. Because of alcohol's effects on the brain, studies have shown that other areas can also be affected such as the central nervous system and the blood supply.
Alcohol will cause speech to be slurred, vision to be blurred, reaction times to be slower and memory to be impaired. Depending on whether a person is drinking on an empty stomach and how quickly they consume the alcohol, these affects can sometimes be apparent after only one or two drinks.
How often a person drinks, when they first began drinking, their gender and size and whether there is a family history of alcohol all will determine what the effects will be. Heavy drinking is one of the causes of acquired brain injury (Alcohol Related Brain Injury - ARBI). Alcohol can cause short-term memory loss, dehydration and can lead to falls and accidents. Alcohol can also increase the risk of seizures following brain injury.
Alcohol abuse can also lead to traumatic brain injuries because someone who is drinking may still drive without making reasonable judgments and may take more risks than a sober person would. Their chance of falling is increased as is the potential of getting into verbal altercations or fisticuffs. Alcoholics tend to have more head injuries; there is a high rate of alcohol abuse before TBI.
Those who continue to use alcohol after a traumatic brain injury have more difficulty with thinking abilities, cognitive function and memory problems. Cells are lost after a brain injury and other cells will have to work that much harder. If those cells are affected by alcohol, it makes it more difficult for them to work. Alcohol worsens problems already brought about by the brain injury.
People who use alcohol after a brain injury don't recover as quickly or as completely and in fact, can lose much of the progress they have made. They will lose what skills they had previous to the brain injury that they could possibly have regained.
For people who have alcohol related brain injury or have suffered a traumatic brain injury, because of their impaired insight they do not realize that their substance abuse is a problem. The problem is exacerbated for counselors working with survivors of brain injury and those with ARBI because when those with brain injuries report on their use of alcohol the figures are usually inaccurate because of their memory deficits.
For those who have brain injuries, the affects of alcohol will be more quickly apparent. After only two beers, my partner will have problems with speech and attitude and after only one glass of rye, (particularly the way he likes to pour them), he is slurring his words and having difficulty walking. Before his brain injury, although he drank several glasses every day, I saw no outward signs of inebriation.
These signs become readily apparent because of alcohol's effect on the brain. The only conclusion possible, therefore, is that alcohol is bad for the brain.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Impact of Frontal Lobe Injuries
Our frontal lobe is the emotional control center of our brain and is the director of our personalities. For this reason, when we receive brain trauma to the frontal lobe, many areas of our life will be affected.
Because of the size and location of the frontal lobe, this is the most common area to be injured. A traumatic injury to this part of our brain can affect problem solving, short term memory loss, motivation, judgment, impulsivity, behavior, perception, attention span difficulties, rationality, apathy, inhibition (possibly social or sexually inappropriate behavior), strategizing problems, and decision making.
A very common deficit of frontal lobe injury is perseveration which is non-compliance with rules. There may also be difficulty in interpreting cues to guide behavior. This can have a serious affect on interpersonal relationships; especially if perseveration is not acknowledged by the survivor.
A brain injured survivor is considered to be in denial when deficits are unacknowledged. Denial hinders rehabilitation and recovery. It also has a detrimental affect on relationships.
Personality changes can generally be significant with this type of injury. The changes will be dependent upon the survivor's deficits and upon his/her acceptance of the injury and willingness to work towards a new life through adaptations and adjustments.
Studies have found that some survivors with frontal lobe injuries have difficulty understanding some types of humor; many prefer the slapstick variety. In some cases however, the personality may become flat with no sense of humor and little facial expression.
Abstract thinking can also sometimes be affected. The ability to understand others allows us to feel empathy, sympathy, and to realize when others are being sarcastic or deceptive. Other areas of the brain can sometimes adapt to be able to take over the functions of the damaged area; this is more likely if the injured person is young. Additionally some sufferers of a frontal lobe injury may have problems consistently performing a task which may make job performance difficult.
Intensive therapy following this type of injury, according to some studies, is important towards achieving successful rehabilitation. Sadly, in many communities there are few resources available for brain injured survivors. And in some cases unfortunately, the injured person is reluctant to participate in programs that would assist him/her in recovery.
Frontal lobe injuries change the brain injured survivor's life; in most cases forever. This will be more evident in some people than in others because no two brain injuries are the same.
Because of the size and location of the frontal lobe, this is the most common area to be injured. A traumatic injury to this part of our brain can affect problem solving, short term memory loss, motivation, judgment, impulsivity, behavior, perception, attention span difficulties, rationality, apathy, inhibition (possibly social or sexually inappropriate behavior), strategizing problems, and decision making.
A very common deficit of frontal lobe injury is perseveration which is non-compliance with rules. There may also be difficulty in interpreting cues to guide behavior. This can have a serious affect on interpersonal relationships; especially if perseveration is not acknowledged by the survivor.
A brain injured survivor is considered to be in denial when deficits are unacknowledged. Denial hinders rehabilitation and recovery. It also has a detrimental affect on relationships.
Personality changes can generally be significant with this type of injury. The changes will be dependent upon the survivor's deficits and upon his/her acceptance of the injury and willingness to work towards a new life through adaptations and adjustments.
Studies have found that some survivors with frontal lobe injuries have difficulty understanding some types of humor; many prefer the slapstick variety. In some cases however, the personality may become flat with no sense of humor and little facial expression.
Abstract thinking can also sometimes be affected. The ability to understand others allows us to feel empathy, sympathy, and to realize when others are being sarcastic or deceptive. Other areas of the brain can sometimes adapt to be able to take over the functions of the damaged area; this is more likely if the injured person is young. Additionally some sufferers of a frontal lobe injury may have problems consistently performing a task which may make job performance difficult.
Intensive therapy following this type of injury, according to some studies, is important towards achieving successful rehabilitation. Sadly, in many communities there are few resources available for brain injured survivors. And in some cases unfortunately, the injured person is reluctant to participate in programs that would assist him/her in recovery.
Frontal lobe injuries change the brain injured survivor's life; in most cases forever. This will be more evident in some people than in others because no two brain injuries are the same.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Brain Injury Awareness
It is important to those who have sustained brain injuries that the public be made aware of the difficulties and challenges they encounter following such an injury. Few people are aware of the consequences of a brain injury until it happens to them or to a family member. In the United States, March is Brain Injury Awareness Month; in Canada it is June.
There has been much mentioned lately about the dangers of concussions and the risks involved when young people play sports. Concussions are now considered to be a mild brain injury and while initially may not appear to be serious, can result in later consequences if not looked after at the time of the injury. It is important therefore that coaches, teachers and parents who are involved in youth sports be made aware of concussion prevention, recognition and response.
Brain injury awareness campaigns attempt to educate the public in the prevention of traumatic brain injuries. In spite of the fact that many of these injuries can be prevented, the lack of awareness of the consequences of this type of injury means that prevention mesures are often not taken. Prevention can be accomplished in many ways, i.e.: by living a healthy lifestyle, and by wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle, biking, skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, skating and skateboarding. Also, seatbelts should be worn at all times when in a motor vehicle; driving should be done defensively; and alcohol and illegal drugs should be avoided while in control of a motor vehicle.
Other reminders to help people become aware of, and prevent needless brain injuries are: to keep guns in locked cabinets; keep guns unloaded, and to store ammunition separately from guns.
Those most vulnerable for sustaining brain injuries are children under five, seniors seventy or over and those between fifteen and forty. Men are twice as likely as women to sustain traumatic brain injuries. The most likely causes of brain injury are vehicular accidents, falls and accidents. However, others at risk are those who are in contact or extreme sports, construction workers and, in more recent years, those who have served in the military.
Brain injury awareness information also attempts to reinforce the importance of support programs to assist survivors in working towards successful rehabilitation. And for this reason, a rehabilitation team is necessary for best results. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists and support groups.
Because social, physical and economic challenges are created as a result of brain damage and resulting cognitive problems, caregiver support is also necessary. Relationships are difficult to maintain when there are behavior and cognitive difficulties. This is especially true when friends no longer visit the survivor thereby relieving the caregiver.
Despite the staggering statistics of brain injuries suffered each year in both Canada and the United States, there is very little public awareness of the problem. Let 2010 be your year to learn more about this often preventable and devastating tragedy.
There has been much mentioned lately about the dangers of concussions and the risks involved when young people play sports. Concussions are now considered to be a mild brain injury and while initially may not appear to be serious, can result in later consequences if not looked after at the time of the injury. It is important therefore that coaches, teachers and parents who are involved in youth sports be made aware of concussion prevention, recognition and response.
Brain injury awareness campaigns attempt to educate the public in the prevention of traumatic brain injuries. In spite of the fact that many of these injuries can be prevented, the lack of awareness of the consequences of this type of injury means that prevention mesures are often not taken. Prevention can be accomplished in many ways, i.e.: by living a healthy lifestyle, and by wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle, biking, skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, skating and skateboarding. Also, seatbelts should be worn at all times when in a motor vehicle; driving should be done defensively; and alcohol and illegal drugs should be avoided while in control of a motor vehicle.
Other reminders to help people become aware of, and prevent needless brain injuries are: to keep guns in locked cabinets; keep guns unloaded, and to store ammunition separately from guns.
Those most vulnerable for sustaining brain injuries are children under five, seniors seventy or over and those between fifteen and forty. Men are twice as likely as women to sustain traumatic brain injuries. The most likely causes of brain injury are vehicular accidents, falls and accidents. However, others at risk are those who are in contact or extreme sports, construction workers and, in more recent years, those who have served in the military.
Brain injury awareness information also attempts to reinforce the importance of support programs to assist survivors in working towards successful rehabilitation. And for this reason, a rehabilitation team is necessary for best results. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists and support groups.
Because social, physical and economic challenges are created as a result of brain damage and resulting cognitive problems, caregiver support is also necessary. Relationships are difficult to maintain when there are behavior and cognitive difficulties. This is especially true when friends no longer visit the survivor thereby relieving the caregiver.
Despite the staggering statistics of brain injuries suffered each year in both Canada and the United States, there is very little public awareness of the problem. Let 2010 be your year to learn more about this often preventable and devastating tragedy.
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