Serious Complications Of Cerebral Palsy

Heart And Lung Disease

An individual who has cerebral palsy is more likely to develop heart and lung disease alongside their disorder. The most common forms of heart and lung disease seen in these patients include ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and asthma. Two others are stroke and hypertensive heart disease. Patients who experience oral motor dysfunction because of their cerebral palsy are at an increased risk of developing lung disease for several reasons. This includes bronchiolitis, aspiration, pneumonia, and respiratory distress syndrome.

Cerebral palsy can cause an affected individual to have a spinal or chest wall deformity that can lead to limited lung function. The increased risk of developing heart disease is attributed to the fact that cerebral palsy is a movement disorder that causes a sedentary lifestyle. This type of lifestyle leads to the development of obesity and hypertension. These are two of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease, which is amplified if the affected individual also happens to smoke.

Osteopenia

Individuals with cerebral palsy often deal with osteopenia as a complication of their condition. Osteopenia is a condition in which individuals have low bone density. This complication puts individuals at a higher risk of experiencing fractures, since their bones are weaker. Cerebral palsy has osteopenia as a complication for several reasons. One of them is deficiencies in nutrients, and another is a lack of mobility. Nutrients, particularly calcium, are essential for bone strength.

Lacking in them, therefore, reduces the strength of an individual's bones. Staying mobile is another method of increasing bone strength, so it stands to reason that a lack of mobility, which is common in cerebral palsy, can trigger osteopenia. Finally, patients with cerebral palsy often take anti-epileptic medication, which can also increase the risk of osteopenia as a complication.