Cerebral palsy is a disease that impairs one's ability to control their muscles. It encompasses a set of neurological disorders stemming from brain injuries or abnormalities occurring before, during or shortly after birth during the brain's developmental period. You cannot catch cerebral palsy from somebody suffering from it, nor can you transmit it to others.
Let's talk about this ailment in detail and the ways that can help us prevent cerebral palsy.
Ways to Prevent Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a disease that occurs when the brain cannot develop fully. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,about 70% of cerebral palsy cases result from prenatal damage to the brain. This disease affects a person's ability to control their motor function or movement. Moreover, the cerebral hemisphere is the brain's cerebrum responsible for movement. This means the injury happens during pregnancy.This usually happens when the child is still in the womb or early childhood. Other reasons include:
- The mother catches the infection while pregnant, affecting the baby in the womb.
- The consumption of alcohol and other drugs by pregnant women.
- Difficulty in childbirth leads to less oxygen supply to the baby's brain.
- Less blood supply to the baby's brain while in the womb for certain reasons.
- An accident that causes injury to the child's brain.
- An infection that causes inflammation in or near the child's brain.
You should take care of certain things to lessen the chances of developing the infection. However, these remedies may not completely help you prevent cerebral palsy, but they can reduce the chances of suffering from the disease.
- A healthy pregnancy may not eliminate the chances of developing the infections that can cause cerebral palsy, but it can reduce the chances. You should regularly visit your doctor for prenatal care, seek medical care if you ever suffer from fever or infections, have good nutritional food, etc.
- Women should vaccinate themselves against diseases such as rubella and measles before planning their pregnancy, as it could prevent infection that can hamper the baby's brain development.
- Women should get themselves treated for diabetes, high blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases, etc., before planning their pregnancy.
- One should quit smoking, alcohol, and other drugs to have a healthy pregnancy because the healthier the mother, the less chance of the child suffering infections that could affect brain development.
- Make sure to get your baby's check-up done for jaundice before leaving the hospital, as it can prevent chances of cerebral palsy.
- Get your baby vaccinated against meningitis and encephalitis, as they can contribute to the development of the disease.
- Make sure to put safety gear to guard the baby from falling, as they might suffer an injury from a fall, leading to brain damage.
- Watch your child from slipping while riding his/her bike, playing on the ground or playing in the pool.
You can decrease the possibility of developing the disease by taking specific measures, as there is no known cure, as suggested by experts. To date, the exact reason behind the disease is unknown. People with this disease may suffer from psychological and musculoskeletal problems affecting their posture, body movement, communication ability, sensory perceptions and other bodily functions. Also, you should consider investing in health insurance to protect yourself against any financial implications of such diseases.
Conclusion
Although these steps cannot prevent the occurrence of cerebral palsy, they can indeed reduce the chances of an infant suffering from it. Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, yet numerous therapies and treatments are available to assist individuals in effectively managing their condition and enhancing overall quality of life. Moreover, to avoid the chances of suffering from the disease, you should get health insurance that covers you and your family in times of distress.