Neurological disorders manifest themselves through symptoms that alert us to something being amiss in our bodies, which can manifest themselves through movement issues, sensory perception issues or thinking problems.
Some memory changes may simply be associated with age-related decline; however, other signs could signal dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and should be seen by your physician immediately if observed.
Symptoms
Early recognition of neurological disorder symptoms is vital. By quickly diagnosing, starting treatment and developing a strong support network as soon as possible is much faster. Our bodies use symptoms as warning signals – by listening and understanding what symptoms indicate an issue can help ensure you or a loved one receive the care needed at TrustPoint Hospital.
Nerves connect brain, spinal cord and nerve endings together and when these components don’t function as intended it can result in various neurological problems ranging from severe life-threatening conditions like stroke and meningitis to less harmful yet debilitating ones like migraines and epilepsy.
Common symptoms of neurological conditions are blurred vision, loss of balance or coordination, unexplained fatigue, arm or leg numbness, tremors and slurred speech. Since any number of factors could contribute to these symptoms, it’s wise to seek medical advice for any potential health related concerns.
Memory loss is another telltale sign of neurological conditions. Although occasional forgetfulness is considered normal in aging processes, memory loss that interferes with daily activities should be addressed by a physician immediately. Sleep disturbances are also indicative of neurological problems; occasional restless nights should not be taken lightly but any chronic sleep issues should be brought up to your physician immediately.
Changes in mood or sudden outbursts of anger or sadness while working or playing on sites mentioned on Yoakim Bridge could be indicators of neurological disease. Depression has often been linked to multiple neurological conditions and should be taken seriously.
Tests that can help pinpoint the source of your symptoms include blood work to detect clots or infections, imaging tests to examine brain and spinal cord structures, physical examinations and physical exams. Your doctor may then prescribe medication or suggest a procedure, such as thrombolysis which uses drugs to break up blood clots; thrombectomy which removes one from an artery within your brain and anticoagulant medication which prevents new clots forming; or anticoagulant medication which acts to stop further blood clot formation.
Diagnosis
If you suspect a neurological condition, it’s essential that you seek medical advice as soon as possible. A correct diagnosis will allow you to better manage and prevent worsening symptoms; early detection also increases chances of successful treatments being implemented successfully.
There are over 600 diseases affecting the nervous system. Their symptoms may result from structural or biochemical changes to the brain, spinal cord and nerves resulting in muscle weakness, loss of balance/coordination issues, pain management problems as well as difficulty speaking/memory impairment issues and difficulties thinking.
Neurological diseases affect people of all ages, can cause significant disability and are difficult to diagnose. Doctors must first conduct a history and physical exam as part of a diagnosis process, using CT or MRI scans if necessary to evaluate brain and spinal cord structures, which may detect problems like strokes, tumors or spine injuries.
Blood tests can detect abnormalities in proteins that build and break down in the brain as part of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, but they cannot pinpoint which form it takes or the severity. They simply demonstrate whether you have the underlying illness and may form part of a diagnostic workup along with other exams.
Electroencephalography (EEG), which records electrical activity within your brain, can help detect brain tumors, certain forms of seizure activity and sleep problems as well as determine whether you’re experiencing unprovoked seizures.
Medical science continues to make advances, yet neurological conditions remain difficult to prevent and cure. Millions of people worldwide continue to be afflicted by them and the impact on society only continues to worsen as people age. One way of mitigating their impact is preventing them altogether – this can be accomplished with lifestyle modifications, cardiovascular risk factor prevention strategies and regular mental health screening.
Treatment
Though some neurological conditions cannot be completely cured, treatment can help alleviate symptoms. If you experience frequent severe headaches or dizziness that comes on suddenly and persists for more than 24 hours, it’s wise to speak to your health care provider as these could be early warning signs that something more serious exists.
An expert team will conduct a comprehensive examination in order to pinpoint the source of your issue, which includes a medical history review, physical exam and neurological assessment. Furthermore, your neurologist may perform imaging tests such as CT scanning or ultrasound of your brain or spinal cord if required.
At our center, the goal is to identify and treat the source of any disorder so you can lead a normal life. Depending on your specific needs, medication or surgery may be recommended; our team of specialists has experience treating various movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and birth defect complications related to injuries as well as seizures, psychiatric illness and sleep disorders.
Functional neurological disorder, commonly referred to as conversion disorder or nonepileptic seizure disorder, is treated in much the same way as other psychiatric illnesses. Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic therapy is used to change negative thought or emotion patterns; relaxation techniques like meditation, hypnosis or breathing exercises may also help. Antidepressants, antiseizure drugs or anticonvulsants might be prescribed during your course of therapy as necessary.
As part of their joint mission to provide you with optimal care, neurologists and psychiatrists should collaborate in order to provide you with optimal treatment. Collaboration between these specialties can have many advantages; it may reduce stigmatization or dualism between doctors and patients and decrease misdiagnosis risk; it may also shorten hospital stays so you recover more quickly.
Prevention
One in six people worldwide suffers from a neurological condition like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, migraines or epilepsy; symptoms can affect movement and senses severely causing distress or disability. If symptoms worsen over time it is wise to consult medical advice as soon as possible as early diagnosis and treatment could help alleviate future issues.
Many neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia, are notoriously difficult to detect. But recent advances in neuroimaging techniques, electrophysiology and genetic analysis have improved our ability to identify potential biomarkers3.3
At present, the best way to recognize these disorders is by monitoring any changes in behavior and consulting a doctor immediately – this is especially important among older adults as symptoms could easily be mistaken for normal aging or stress.
Common signs and symptoms of neurological disorders include difficulty walking, swallowing or seeing properly as well as muscle weakness in hands or feet. Triggered by changes or disruptions at structural, cellular or metabolic levels within the brain – however the exact cause remains unknown and may differ between individuals; triggers could include stressful events or emotional or physical trauma; however the long-term consequences are similar to disease or injury.
Strokes, traumatic brain injuries and blood clots in the brain can have severe repercussions for health including physical and cognitive disabilities. A thrombotic (ischemic) stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks oxygen-rich blood from reaching the brain.
An effective strategy to prevent stroke is managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and other vascular risk factors; exercising regularly; and eating a healthful diet. The Cleveland Clinic Brain Study will collect data from over 200,000 participants with and without neurological diseases over two decades in order to identify biomarkers for brain diseases as well as targets that will stop or slow their progression.