There are many different types of brain injury that a person can suffer. One brain injury that you should be aware of if a loved one was involved in an accident is a brain infarction. Your loved one might be suffering from this issue due to illness or injury. If you suspect that your loved one might have a brain infarction, or if they have recently been diagnosed with this issue, you can learn more here. This information can ensure that you get your loved one the help that they need.
What is a Brain Infarction?
Brain infarction is local tissue death in the brain. This issue can occur in any part of the brain, including the thalami, cerebral hemispheres, brain stem, basal ganglia, or the cerebellum.
Oftentimes, a brain infarction happens as a result of an injury or an illness. Loss of blood or oxygen can the brain can also result in brain infarction. One of the most common causes of a brain infarction is stroke. When a stroke occurs, it disrupts blood flow to the brain. There are a few different types of stroke that cause different issues. For example, a hemorrhagic stroke happens when blood vessels break open. This causes blood to leak into the brain. There is also the ischemic stroke, which happens when blood vessels carrying blood to the brain become blocked. This usually happens by a blood clot in the body or brain.
Other common causes of brain infarctions are bleeding disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and head injuries. Head injuries can commonly cause bleeding in the brain, and could lead to the death of brain tissue.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
If your loved one was involved in an accident or suffered a stroke, you should watch out for brain infarction. A few common symptoms to watch for include:
- Weakness, tingling, or numbness in the body
- Decreased sensation in certain body parts
- Memory loss
- Changes in vision
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Loss of coordination or balance
- Drooping eyelids
- Uncontrollable eye movements
While some of these symptoms may seem minor and could point to other issues, most of these are serious and should be carefully watched for. Even if you are not sure if your loved one has a brain infarction, you should contact a medical professional if you suspect this issue. It is better to get it checked out than to wait and potentially cause more harm.
Prognosis and Recovery
A doctor’s prognosis for a brain infarction will vary depending on the severity of the issue. Serious infarctions can lead to long lasting brain issues or even death. However, many times this issue can be treated, especially if it is diagnosed early. A medical professional will likely try to diagnose brain infarction through the Oxford Community Stroke Project classification, which is based on initial symptoms, or the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification, if it is assumed that your loved one had a stroke.
If your loved one’s prognosis is good, a doctor will likely order rehabilitation. This rehabilitation oftentimes includes speech therapy, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy. Sometimes all three are necessary, or just one. This will depend on your loved one’s situation.
Getting Help
It is important that you support your loved one both emotionally and physically through this difficult time. If they are facing a brain injury, they might be scared. Their life may also be permanently changed due to the accident or illness. For more information on how to help a loved one with a brain infarction, you can contact my office. I am happy to provide more resources.
