Nervous System Disorders
Overview
The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, cranial, and peripheral nerves. Disorders that affect any of these structures lead to a variety of mental, and/or physical symptoms. Nervous system disorders are divided into the following categories:
- Vascular disorders – Stroke, Transient ischemic attack, Hemorrhage
- Infections – Meningitis, Encephalitis, Polio
- Structural disorders – Cervical spondylosis, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Functional disorders – Headache, Dizziness, Epilepsy
- Degenerative disorders – Parkinson’s diseases, Alzheimer’s disease
Causes
There is a extensive range of causes that can lead to nervous system disorders, but the more common ones are listed below:
- Trauma
- Vascular diseases (Atherosclerosis, Vasculitis)
- Unhealthy lifestyle
- Aging
- Infections
Symptoms
Nervous system disorders can present with the following symptoms:
- Persistent or sudden onset of a headache
- A headache that changes or is different from the ones you usually get
- Loss of feeling
- Tingling
- Weakness or loss of muscle strength
- Loss of sight or double vision
- Memory loss
- Impaired mental ability
- Lack of coordination of movements
- Muscle rigidity
- Tremors and seizures
- Back pain which radiates to the feet, toes, or other parts of the body
- Muscle wasting
- Slurred speech
- Sudden language impairment (inability to speak, or comprehend speech)
Diagnosis
The following tests are important diagnostic tools for identifying nervous system disorders:
- MRI brain
- CT scan brain
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)
- Electromyogram (EMG)
- PET scan
- Angiogram
- Evoked potentials
- Myelogram
Treatment
Nervous system disorders can be treated with physiotherapy, medications, and surgery.
