You might not drink or have been ever drunk but it is still worth getting a sobriety test done when you are sober. Doing this will help you get some valuable information related to your brain and know if you are at any risk of developing any neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or even dementia. Sobriety test works to measure the cerebellum function. This area of the brain is known to play a role in coordination and balance. If there is alcohol in the body, this section of the brain is usually compromised. The cerebellum is also dependent on lifestyle habits, stress and also modern diet.
In case there is poor cerebellum function, it can compromise on balance. Besides, it also increases problems related to insomnia and anxiety which makes the person quite sensitive to light and sound. This condition can also increase the degeneration of the brain, cause problem with your metabolism system and can also cause hormonal functions. The cerebellum is an important part of the brain. If its function starts failing, the brain gets quite overwhelmed with the additional sensory input. The brain and also the body remains alert or in great stress.
Sobriety test exercises help in knowing when in trouble. In case you have failed the sobriety test, a few exercises of the test, can help in improving the brain function and health.
Sobriety Test Exercises:
Single-Leg Stand Test: Stand as you keep your feet together. Your arms shall be by the side. You shouldn’t raise the arms as you take the test, because you might feel the need to balance. Move one foot above the ground. Stay in this position for some time and count slowly.
If your cerebellum is in good health, you should be able to stand comfortably on a single leg. In case you start swaying or you find you are losing your balance; you should understand that your cerebellum is compromised. You can do this exercise a number of times in a day. It will improve the brain health.
If you wish to challenge yourself a bit more, you need to stand near a wall. You might have to grab it, in case you have a tendency to fall. You will do the exercise as you keep your eyes closed. If you are fine with it, you can do the exercise by standing on a foam and you will have it more challenging. You can have your eyes closed.
Heel-Toe Walk Test: This is another common sobriety test. It is also known as walk-and turn. Your arms will be by your side. You will not raise them for additional balance. You will be walking on your heel to toe. You will walk on imaginary line and for nine steps. Move and again walk heel to toe as you shift back for at least nine tests.
Though this is not a part of the sobriety test, it is recommended that you get started by standing on your heel to toe, before you start walking. You will stand just next to the wall so that you can grab it, in case you lose balance. Are you able to stand heel to toe as you keep the eyes closed? What about standing on piece of foam.
You should do this test quite smoothing. You shouldn’t be unsteady or wobble or sway. In case you are not able to it means the cerebellum is compromised. You need to do the exercise a number of times in a day and your cerebellum health as well as function will slowly improve.
Though, this is not a part of sobriety test, there is another way which can help you to test the cerebellum. Stand as you keep your feet together. Keep your eyes closed. In case, you find yourself swaying to a side, it might mean, that particular side of the cerebellum is compromised.
There different signs of poor cerebellum function which includes nausea when in boats or cars or dizziness when you see things moving quite swiftly like in movies.
Cerebellar Exercises:
People suffering from cerebellar dysfunction often get fatigued or nauseous. You shouldn’t strain your brain too much. You shouldn’t overdo these exercises. You can do these exercises few minutes a day and you will be able to see improvements quite quickly. In case you start feeling dizzy or nauseous, you need to stop and let your brain rest. You can try the movement for a short duration whenever you do it next time. Your neurons need to exercise but they shouldn’t be stressed too much.
Importance of Good Balance for Brain
The cerebellum isn’t just meant for coordination and balance. New research suggests that it has an important role to play in case of abstract thinking, language, planning, memory and emotions.In case the cerebellum function is compromised, it will start gating information to various parts of the brain. The brain gets overloaded with much more information than it can actually manage.
This leads to different symptoms which includes:
- Irritation
- Digestive problems
- Sensitivity to light
- Anxiety
- Emotional reactivity
- Racing mind causes insomnia
- Changes in blood pressure
Symptoms of Damaged Cerebellum:
- Movement tremors
- Not able to perform quick alternating movements
- Poor coordination and motor movement
- Not able to judge distance and know when to stop
- Slurred speech
- Tendency to fall
- Abnormal movement of the eyes.
Is your cerebellum compromised?
Functional medicine and functional neurology offer different ways to restore the cerebellar function. This is usually through customized rehabilitation exercises for the brain, diet and also lifestyle changes. For example, the cerebellum is quite sensitive to dairy, gluten and other foods. In case you have cerebellum problems, get in touch with my office and know about the different ways to know how diet is a reason for quick brain degeneration.
Also, get in touch with my office to know more how functional neurology can help in identifying different areas of your compromised brain function. You will also know how to improve the brain health and reduce the risk of dementia, neurodegenerative disease and also Alzheimer’s.