4 Early Signs of Wet Brain Damage
The brain is the command center of the human body, and the spinal cord forms the central nervous system. The largest part of your brain is called the cerebrum and is roughly 75% of this fantastic organ by weight. To keep your brain healthy, some nutrients and chemicals must be present in your body. Alcohol abuse can lead to malnutrition and malabsorption issues, resulting in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Common problems such as vitamin deficiency can wreak havoc with the human body when the brain is not getting what it needs. One such instance is vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. Severe deficiencies in B1 can be the cause of wet brain damage or Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a serious condition with a grave outcome if not treated promptly. When Wenicke’s encephalopathy is left untreated, it eventually results in Korsakoff Psychosis and, ultimately, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, or wet brain damage. Below are some symptoms to be aware of.
- Suffering From Confusion
Confusion is a commonly missed symptom in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome because so many other conditions, including alcohol abuse, present with this symptom. Someone with wet brain symptoms suffering from confusion can present as someone who is simply inebriated from consuming excess alcohol. The symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff are similar to drunkenness in that they may lead to aggression and apathy.
- Vital Changes
A change in your body’s natural function is likely when dealing with wet brain symptoms. An increased heart rate with no apparent exertion presents a problem that can affect your heart. Increased or decreased body temperatures are possible and sometimes result in febrile seizures or even hypothermia when uncontrolled.
- Lack Of Coordination
Lack of coordination, or clumsiness, is a commonly missed diagnosis when dealing with wet brain symptoms. Someone who has overconsumed alcoholic beverages is likely to appear clumsy. With wet brain symptoms, muscles become weak, and balance becomes poor, making it easy to brush off the symptoms of wet brain syndrome and simple inebriation.
- Impaired Vision
Peripheral vision is sometimes affected by the overconsumption of alcoholic beverages, leaving you with a narrowed field of sight. Strange eye movements are not uncommon in the first stages of wet brain damage. In addition to odd eye movements, ptosis or drooping eyelids can partially block vision, making it difficult to see clearly. Double vision is another possible issue. It is easy to see how these visual clues are often overlooked and dismissed as too much alcohol instead of the actual medical issue of wet brain symptoms.
Know The Signs
Left untreated, wet brain syndrome has dire consequences, with life expectancy sometimes as little as six months after initial diagnosis. Treatment consists of alcohol cessation along with hydration and therapy with vitamin B1. Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is not produced naturally and must be consumed through dietary sources or vitamin supplementation. Seeking help in the form of a treatment center from a detox facility and subsequent rehabilitation, along with solid medical support, provides the best chance for recovery.
