Neurological brain disorders affect millions of people all over the world and has now become common. They affect quality of life by interfering in daily activities and hampering overall well-being. Therefore, it is important to understand some common types of brain disorders and know their causes, symptoms and treatments.
Read this blog to learn about the top 6 brain disorders and understand them better.
Migraine
A migraine is defined as severe headaches that occur frequently and are unbearable. Migraine pain can last for 4 hours to a few days. Migraines worsen and may cause disturbance in your daily routine. Let’s have a look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for migraine.
Causes
Migraine can be triggered by various factors. Some environmental factors include sudden weather changes, strong smells like that of paint, perfume etc, and food triggers like too much of alcohol or caffeine. It can also be triggered by stress, anxiety or hormonal changes.
Symptoms
Migraine has different stages and therefore its symptoms may vary. However, some common symptoms include difficulty in sleeping, nausea, headache, sensitivity to light and sound etc. Generally, the headache starts from one side of the head and then shifts to the other side.
Treatment
Migraine can be best managed by managing its triggers, taking timely medicines and avoiding symptoms by taking preventive medicine. The treatment choice depends on the frequency of pain and severity of the pain and therefore it varies from person to person.
Brain Tumor
A brain tumor is a type of neurological brain disorder is a mass of cells or tissue that makes a lump (tumor) which can also be cancerous sometimes. However, not all brain tumours are cancerous but all brain cancers are brain tumours.
Causes
Even though causes of brain tumor are not yet discovered, there are several risk factors that might lead to brain tumor. Risk of brain tumor increases with age, family history and exposure to strong radiation like radiation therapy or power lines.
Symptoms
Brain tumours can come with severe headaches, seizures, speech problems, nausea, vomiting or sometimes no symptoms at all. If a brain tumor grows slowly, it might not show any symptoms.
Treatment
The treatment plan for brain tumors is decided upon by various factors. For a non-cancerous (benign) tumor, the tumor may not harm that much and can be removed by surgery and few medications, however, cancerous tumours (malignant) are much more harmful and can require a series of treatment depending upon its stage. A doctor can recommend chemotherapies, radiation therapies, surgery and various other treatments depending upon one’s condition.
Brain Stroke
Brain stroke or brain attack occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts suddenly. It is a type of medical emergency and needs immediate attention. Brain strokes tend to give long term impacts on an individual’s health and can also interfere with their daily tasks. Therefore it is better if treated early.
Causes
Brain strokes can happen due to blocked arteries in the brain or due to leakage or rupturing of blood vessels in the brain.
Symptoms
Brain stroke comes suddenly and may not show any symptoms before. However, it might show symptoms while an individual is experiencing a stroke. It can include sudden trouble in speaking, numbness or weakness, headache or problem in seeing from one or both eyes.
Treatment
The emergency treatment depends on the type of brain stroke one is experiencing. An Ischemic stroke refers to a stoppage of blood supply in the brain, the treatment for this type of stroke requires blood restoration as soon as possible. Another type of stroke is hemorrhage, which causes the blood vessels to rupture and leads to bleeding inside the brain. Immediate blood control is required for this stroke.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s, a neurological brain disorder that causes movement problems, stiffness and tremors. The disease does not have any cure but medicines can help control movements and symptoms to several extent.
Causes
The ultimate cause is still unknown however it may be hereditary or can occur due to some environmental factors.
Symptoms
Its symptoms include tremors in hands, legs, arms or head, muscle stiffness or slowness of movement and impaired balance and coordination of the body.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a type of brain disorder that causes seizures. It is a condition where nerve cells don’t signal properly. It is a common disease that affects all genders and ages.
Causes
Epilepsy can be caused due to a head injury, trauma or haemorrhage. However, in some cases causes are unknown.
Symptoms
Symptoms of epilepsy disorder depend on the type of seizure. Some common symptoms include stiff muscles, a temporary confused state, a staring spell or uncontrollable jerking movements of arms and legs.
Treatment
Anti-seizure medications (AEDs), surgery (if medicines are unable to cure), devices (VNS or DBS) or diet changes can help cure epilepsy.
Dementia
Dementia is defined as the loss of cognitive function of the body, more common in older individuals. It interferes with your daily life and activities hampering your quality of life. Take a look at its causes, symptoms and treatment options.
Causes
Dementia can be caused due to head trauma, medication side effects, Parkinson’s disease, ageing etc.
Symptoms
Difficulty concentrating, increased confusion, personality changes, depression or anxiety, hallucinations, and sleep problems, all can be symptoms of dementia.
Treatment
There is no known cure for dementia but some treatments like medications, therapy or lifestyle changes can help reduce the effect of symptoms.
Conclusion
Even though brain disorders cause significant challenges, early intervention and treatment can lead to great improvement for those who are affected. Along with medical treatment, some lifestyle changes can also help and significantly improve the quality of life. If someone is experiencing signs and symptoms related to the brain, consult with advanced neurology and super speciality hospital in Jaipur for advanced technology and treatments from experienced professionals.
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