A brain arteriovenous malformation, or AVM in the brain, refers to an irregular tangle of blood vessels. This becomes an obstacle between the arteries and veins in one’s brain. In this case, neither the arteries nor the veins can function properly in one’s brain. Arteries fail to transmit the oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain, and in response, veins also fail to transmit the oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs and heart. This causes one’s body to enter an emergency state, and it manifests into several symptoms.
Causes of Brain AVM
Medically, there have not been any clear causes for people with brain arteriovenous malformations. Most of them are simply born with it and only realize it at a later point in their lives (around the ages of 20 to 40). However, the symptoms’ risk to one’s life is higher for people between the ages of 30 and 50. Professionals also believe that AVMs are not necessarily hereditary; they do not run in the family. But it is still not completely impossible for them to be; it just happens to be a rare case.
Symptoms Of The Condition
Most of the time, the symptoms of AVM can go unnoticed unless one does a brain scan or experiences a hemorrhage, in which the tangle of blood vessels bursts and bleeds. However, there are still a portion of people who have certain symptoms in advance. Here are some of them:
– Some people could experience splitting headaches and dizziness more often than normal people. Others find themselves dealing with mental problems such as sudden hallucinations, poor memory, or even dementia.
– Some people could face difficulty speaking or understanding language, as well as losing a part of their field of vision or an inability to control their eye movements.
– Some people could also suffer from muscle weakness or complete numbness in certain parts of their body.
Treatment of Brain AVM
The treatment of brain AVM usually depends on what point the person is at. Doctors have to be cautious of whether the blood vessels have burst and bled yet, if the AVM is causing any other complications, or if it is affecting a part of the brain that is not critical and can be safely treated. They can also prescribe medications to help reduce their struggles with headaches or potential seizures.
Above all, the main treatment for AVMs remains a surgical procedure. Doctors usually resort to surgery when they are confident that they can remove the AVM completely or at least treat it without resulting in any fatal damage to the brain.
Nowadays, people sometimes lose track of time due to their busy lifestyles and dismiss the necessity of doing their regular health checkups. This, more often than not, results in failing to identify the early signs of any health issues they might be facing and can easily rob them of their chance of living a long, healthy life. Educating yourself about these medical cases can be the defining line between life and death. So take care of your health and keep it a priority always!
About the Author
Tabti Fatima Zohra is a dedicated writer and an English language teacher. She holds a Master’s Degree in English Literature, and she is striving for a PhD in the near future. She has a fascination with storytelling and believes the stories we write will always find the people who need them.
When she is not writing, she is trying new recipes from all over the world. She finds cooking and baking to be very therapeutic and gives her a much-needed break from the world’s noise for a while. If not, she is enjoying any form of media to, again, write about it afterwards.
Disclaimer: This article is intended simply to provide information. It does not replace the medical advice of a physician. Please speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
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