Hypoxic Encephalopathy and Receiving Social Security Disability
Your brain is enclosed in your cranium. It is truly one of the most complex and amazing organs in all of creation. Your brain is the home of your personality and mind. It is where your future hopes and cherished memories reside. Your brain is at the center of your nervous system. It is the organ that regulates and monitors the actions and reactions of your body. Your brain is constantly getting sensory information, which it quickly analyzes and responds to by regulating the actions and functions of your body. It is obvious that your brain is extremely vital and important. Any disorder or condition that affects and involves your brain is serious and should not be taken lightly. Hypoxic encephalopathy is a condition that is evidenced by the supply of oxygen to your brain being reduced. This is in spite of the fact that there is a sufficient amount of blood flow going to your brain. In a technical sense, hypoxic encephalopathy is a condition that is used in reference to there being a lack of oxygen supply to the outer area of your brain. However, hypoxic encephalopathy is also often used to refer to a lack of oxygen supply to your entire brain.4 Forms of Hypoxic Encephalopathy
There are four separate forms of hypoxic encephalopathy that depend on the location and severity of your oxygen depravation. They are:- ? Focal cerebral ischemia This refers to a stroke that takes place in a localized area.
- ? Global cerebral ischemia This disorder is characterized by a complete stoppage of blood flow to your brain.
- ? Massive cerebral infarction This refers to a stroke in which complete oxygen depravation is caused by an interference in cerebral blood flow that involves multiple areas of your brain.
- ? Diffuse hypoxic encephalopathy This condition is evidenced by a mild to moderate impairment of your brain function that is caused by low oxygen levels in your blood.
Symptoms and Signs of Hypoxic Encephalopathy
There are many different signs and symptoms that you may have with hypoxic encephalopathy. Some of these include:- ? A decrease in your motor control, such as uncoordinated movement
- ? A change in your attention (inattentiveness)
- ? Not having good judgment
- ? Disturbances in your cognitive functions
- ? An increase in your heart rate
- ? A reduction in your short-term memory
- ? Cyanosis (your skin having a bluish appearance)
- ? The loss of your brain stem reflexes (your pupils reacting to light, blinking, gagging)
- ? Seizures
- ? A loss of consciousness
- ? A coma (complete unresponsiveness and unawareness)
- ? Difficulties with being able to perform complex learning tasks.