Nervous System Disorders

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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:

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.

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