Re: What is the new reasearch that is out on the brain

Dear Karen,

I am not quite sure what exactly what events you are talking about. The 
question I really answered is this: "I have had some asthma attacks and 
feel a little different, sort of like a different person. Why is this?"

First, I am to clear up a misconception. CPR does not restart the heart. 
CPR keeps blood circulating, mostly to the heart and brain and provides 
oxygen to the lungs so that the blood that is circulating contains oxygen. 
Drugs that are given during CPR, like adrenaline (epinephrine), atropine 
and lidocaine, help the heart beat stronger and help keep the heart 
beating in rhythm. Shock the heart (cardioversion) helps the heart become 
properly resyncrhonized (it does not really restart the heart either).

During such severe events like a severe asthma attack or something 
requireing CPR, there are many drugs used (like epinephrine [andrenaline] 
and steriods); the body makes many different hormones, like epinephrine 
and streriod hormones, both from the adrenal glands. Not only can these 
drugs and hormones help the body recover, they can also have profound 
effects on the brain and personality, especially the steriod hormones. 
Personality changes are common side effects of steriod hormones. In 
addition, after a severe asthma attack, patients are often on steriod 
hormones for a while. I suspect this is what is causing you to feel as if 
you are a different person.

Now to answer the first part of your question. After your brain is short 
of oxygen for a period (which probably is NOT happening during an asthma 
attack -- the hospitals monitor the oxygen levels in your blood pretty 
closely), brain damage can affect the personality. How much depends on 
which areas of the brain are damaged and how badly damaged they are. If 
the brain is indeed damaged by oxygen starvation, how the person's 
personality will change and for how long will depend on where the brain is 
damaged and the type and severity of damage.

One of the things that we are supposed to do is provide references or web 
pages that provide further information. Unfortunately, I was unable to 
find good references for you.

Thanks for your excellent question.

Jeff Utz