6 Neurological Conditions and Symptoms to Look out For
Our nervous system is one of the critical parts of our body. It is a highly specialized and complex network. The nervous system is the part that controls all our body movements, automatic responses, and thoughts to the world around us.
Along with controlling our movements and responses, it also controls other functions in our body like breathing, digestion, bowel and bladder function, sexual development, and such. Our nervous system acts as the command center of our body.
The nervous system can be afflicted by illnesses, injuries, toxins, and the normal ageing process. As it is composed of some of the important parts in our body such as the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles, we must provide the utmost care to them.
When something goes wrong with our nervous system it can adversely affect a lot of functions in our body. There are millions of people who are affected by neurological disorders and there are many others who are unaware of the conditions that they suffer from.
So in this article, we will discuss various neurological conditions and their symptoms to look out for to help you understand and identify them quickly.
Acute Spinal Cord Injury
A severe injury that bruises, partially tears, or shreds the spinal cord causes an acute spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI frequently results in permanent impairment and even death in both children and adults.
An acute spinal cord injury can be caused due to various reasons such as falls, driving accidents, sports injuries, violence, infections, and such. The risk of acute spinal cord injury varies from person to person.
Headaches
One of the most common neurological disorders that many people suffer from is headaches, which can affect anyone at any age. The location and degree of the pain, as well as how frequently headaches occur, vary substantially.
While a headache typically isn’t anything to be overly concerned about, you should consult a doctor if it occurs frequently without warning, as these could be symptoms of an underlying condition.
There are different types of headaches such as migraine, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. When someone is suffering from migraine along with pain, they will also have to deal with nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, photophobia, and other visual symptoms.
Stroke
Stroke is one of the common neurological disorders that a lot of people suffer from. When blood flow to the brain is interrupted such a condition is known as a stroke or a brain attack. For the brain to function properly, it requires a steady flow of oxygen and nutrients.
It can be problematic if the blood supply is cut off, even for a little period of time. The cells in the brain will start to deteriorate within a few minutes if the flow of blood and oxygen is disrupted.
Most strokes are preventable if you are able to recognize their symptoms. B.E.F.A.S.T is an acronym that is commonly used for recognizing a stroke, in which:
B – Balance (watch for loss of balance)
E – Eyes( check for vision loss)
F – Face (check whether they have an uneven smile)
A- Arm (evaluate if they have weakness in one arm)
S – Speech ( pay attention to slurred speech)
T – Time ( get medical attention ASAP)
Identifying the symptoms of stroke can help reduce the risk of it.
Seizures and Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain and increases a person’s risk of experiencing repeated seizures. People of all ages, genders, races, and cultural backgrounds can be affected by this condition.
A seizure can be triggered by anything that breaks the regular connections between the brain’s nerve cells. A high fever, high blood sugar, low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a concussion can result in a seizure.
A seizure can happen to anyone at any time. A person is considered to have epilepsy if they experience two or more seizures. Epilepsy can be caused by a variety of factors, such as an imbalance of neurotransmitters, tumours, strokes, brain damage from disease or accident, or any combination of these.
It is important that you consult a doctor after undergoing a seizure. There are many effective treatments that can help you manage your condition.
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Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
A common complaint, mainly among elderly individuals, is memory loss. Memory loss to some extent is a common aspect of aging. For instance, entering a room without remembering why may be very normal.
However, there are other symptoms that could point to a more serious condition, such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Forgetting the names of close family and friends, getting lost, having trouble managing money, having trouble with everyday tasks, leaving the stove on, and having communication problems are a few examples of these symptoms.
You should consult a doctor to diagnose dementia because it is a slowly progressing disorder. There is no known cure, although there are treatments and drugs that can help you control the symptoms.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic condition of the nervous system that mostly impairs our coordination. This chronic illness, which mainly affects individuals over 65, gradually robs people of their motor skills, leaving them with a weak, clumsy walk, stiff limbs, shaking, shuffling, and an unsteady balance.
It is a common disease among elderly people. Parkinson’s disease currently has no known cure, however, there are numerous treatment options available to manage the disease.
Conclusion
The control center for your entire body is your nervous system. To continue functioning properly, it needs attention. The best method to prevent diseases related to nerve damage is to control illnesses like diabetes that can harm your nerves.
In order to have proper functioning of your nervous system, maintain a good and healthy diet, engage yourself in physical exercises, avoid alcohol and other drugs and visit a doctor occasionally.
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