#BRAIN STEM FUNCTION AFFECTING SLEEP FULL#
#BRAIN STEM FUNCTION AFFECTING SLEEP PROFESSIONAL#

#BRAIN STEM FUNCTION AFFECTING SLEEP PROFESSIONAL#

A speech therapist is the most qualified professional to help you overcome dysphagia, and they are often part of the medical team treating a traumatic brain injury. Because brain stem damage can impair this automatic reflex, survivors are at a greater risk of choking on their own saliva.įortunately, you can treat most swallowing problems with swallowing exercises for dysphagia. While the brain stem is not the only part of the brain that contributes to swallowing, it plays a significant role in automatic swallowing and the gag reflex. When this section of the brain stem sustains damage, it can cause swallowing problems such as dysphagia. The medulla (the bottom section of the brain stem) controls various basic life functions including swallowing. There are also computer programs that track eye movement so that the individual can communicate using specific eye movements. Supportive care is often the best option for survivors with locked-in syndrome. Everything else about the individual - including their ability to think, reason, and hear everything going on around them - remains functional.īecause locked-in syndrome is a serious condition, most people do not regain movement, although some have. This is a motor issue, meaning it only affects a person’s ability to move.

#BRAIN STEM FUNCTION AFFECTING SLEEP FULL#

This condition causes full paralysis of the body except for the eyes. One of the most severe effects that can occur after damage to the brain stem is locked-in syndrome. For example, patients who reach a minimally conscious state within three months have a high likelihood of regaining full consciousness compared to those who are still in a vegetative state after 12 months.

The faster the person progresses through these stages, the higher their chances of making a full recovery will be. Confusional state. Person is awake and aware but does not have full control over their behavior.Person can respond by blinking or smiling but falls in and out of consciousness. Vegetative state. Eyes may open and shut but the person cannot respond in a meaningful way, like squeezing your hand.After that, a person will usually pass through three stages of consciousness before finally becoming alert. Most comas after brain injury will last until the swelling goes down.

When the brain stem sustains damage, the reticular activating system can be affected and result in a coma. The brain stem houses a network of neurons called the reticular activating system, which is responsible for states of consciousness and your ability to wake up. Here are some of the most common effects of brain stem damage: 1. Because every brain injury is different, brain stem injury survivors may experiences some, all, or none of the possible effects. Many of them affect basic life functions. Regardless of how brain stem damage occurs, there are various effects associated with this type of brain injury. You can also suffer brain stem damage after a brain stem stroke or diffuse axonal injury that tears the brain cells in the midbrain, pons, or medulla. Most injuries to the brain stem are the result of swelling in other areas of the brain as swelling forces the brain stem against the skull. Effects of Brain Stem Damageīrain stem damage is rare. The medulla oversees essential life functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and swallowing.īecause the brain stem is the link between the spinal cord and the rest of the brain, damage to the brain stem can also affect other functions besides the ones listed above.

Medulla. Finally, at the bottom of the brain stem is the medulla.

The pons acts as a bridge between the cerebellum and spinal cord and helps control your balance, among other things.

Pons. Below the midbrain lies the pons.

This structure plays a large role in muscle movement, particularly eye movement. Midbrain. At the top of the brain stem rests the midbrain.The brain stem is comprised of three distinct sections, which each section contributing to different functions: The brain stem is also responsible for critical functions that keep you alive and aware of your surroundings, making it one of the most important areas of the brain. It connects the brain and spinal cord, which transports messages via neural pathways throughout the body. The brain stem is located at the base of the skull directly above the spinal cord. Use the following links to jump ahead to certain sections: This article will cover everything you need to know about brain stem damage and how the recovery process works. Fortunately, it is often possible for a person with a brain stem injury to recover through rehabilitation. When brain stem damage occurs, important basic life functions, like breathing, are impacted.

Brain stem function affecting sleep