Cavernoma Awareness Day takes place every August and aims to increase knowledge of how to spot its symptoms, understand its causes, and spread more awareness across your friend groups and workplace organisations.
In order to assist in raising the profile surrounding this condition, it’s important to have as much information at hand as possible. Here’s what you need to know about Cavernoma Awareness Day to do your part and participate this year.
What is Cavernoma?
Cavernoma refers to groups of abnormal blood vessels that form in clusters in the spinal cord and brain. Cavernomas contain blood which travels slowly through these vessels, usually clotting. The look and shape of a Cavernoma resembles a raspberry and can range from a few millimetres to a few centimetres in size.
What are the Symptoms of Cavernoma?
Spotting the signs and symptoms of Cavernoma can be difficult as they tend to vary from person to person. The size of the Cavernoma and its location can also cause these symptoms to vary. Generally speaking, these are some of the most notable Cavernoma symptoms:
- Seizures or severely painful headaches
- Issues with memory and concentration
- Issues with keeping your balance
- Tinnitus and difficulty hearing
- Blurred or double vision
- Dizziness and fatigue
- Drooping in the face
- Difficulty talking
- Numbness
What Causes Cavernoma?
While a specific universal cause of Cavernoma isn’t known, research shows that having a unique but abnormal blood vessel known as DVA (Developmental Venous Anomaly), has been shown to potentially increase the risk of getting it.
Previous exposure to radiation therapy in the brain or spine and hereditary factors may also play a part in the causes, and it’s not uncommon for Cavernoma to be discovered during MRI or CT scans checking for other conditions.
How is Cavernoma Treated?
For some cases, Cavernoma will predominantly be treated and controlled with medications, especially in the case of extreme headaches and seizures. In more extreme cases where there’s a risk of haemorrhage and heavy bleeding, further steps will most likely be taken in the form of surgical treatment or radiation in the event of surgery being deemed too dangerous.
However, it’s important to remember that each Cavernoma case will be unique, and that treatment methods will vary depending on several different factors.
Getting a Cavernoma Diagnosis
Should you or someone you know receive a Cavernoma diagnosis, looking at ways to help reduce symptoms as part of your daily lifestyle can have a positive effect. Small changes like eating a healthy diet and keeping hydrated will help to keep sufferers feeling less lethargic and down.
Regular medical check ups for blood pressure and limited alcohol intake or smoking can also play a big part in staying motivated and positive. If a team member or someone you know personally has this condition, showing solidarity as a group and joining them on being healthier will help to make everything feel a little less hopeless too.
Raising Awareness and Increasing Knowledge
Whether you or someone you know may have Cavernoma, or you’re just eager to help raise as much awareness as possible, sharing this knowledge is the best way to do your part this year.
