Neurological problems should never be ignored. It needs immediate attention and care to prevent any kind of deterioration of the issue. Yes, that's right. In this context, GS Super Speciality Hospital, one of the best neurosurgery hospitals in India takes an initiative to raise awareness about the symptoms of neurological problems as we all are aware that early detection of neurological issues leads to better recovery.
Many people dread neurological issues because it is a progressive disorder that can affect the overall functioning of the body. GS Hospital Delhi NCR aims to spread a clear message about neurological problems and how to deal with them to prevent this progressive condition. In this blog, we shall give you invaluable insights on common neurological problems which will help you detect the issue at an initial stage with correct intervention.
Neurological problems arise from problems in the nervous system which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Your brain and spinal cord send signals to the muscles through nerves for proper functioning and movement of any part of the body. This is known as the nervous system circuit.
When there is a problem in the nervous system network, the communication or nerve signal gets affected leading to impairment of nerves. This leads to a neurological problem causing neurological disorders.
Neurological disorders can affect any age group from children to elderly age groups. The various types of neurological disorders are as follows:
As per research, it has been confirmed that there are more than 600 known neurological problems. A neurological problem has a higher chance of disability if ignored and left untreated.
It is important to detect it at an early stage to prevent degeneration of the nerves. Apart from knowing the signs and symptoms of neurological problems, it is important to detect the cause or trigger to eliminate it for better recovery. Let’s check out the causes of neurological problems.
The main causes of neurological problems are as follows:
According to WHO (World Health Organization), neurological disorders can affect the nervous system at any level such as central or peripheral. This involves the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, neuromuscular junctions, and branches of nerves. It may affect one or multiple systems of the body causing various symptoms. Let’s take a sneak peak into the symptoms of neurological problems.
The symptoms of neurological problems are as follows:
1. Pain: Any kind of back, neck, or leg pain is mostly related to nerve-affecting issues such as lumbar or cervical spondylosis or sciatica. The pain may be chronic at times due to compression of the nerves at the spine.
2. Headache: Recurrent headaches should never be ignored. Any kind of headache occurring frequently for more than 3 months is considered a migraine. Migraine is a neurological disorder associated with one-sided headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo.
3. Muscle Weakness: If you have lower extremity muscle weakness, there are high chance that nerves are involved. The common neuromuscular disorders are muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
4. Tremor: Tremor is a neurological symptom that involves involuntary shaking or trembling of body parts. The tremors may be present at activities as well as on rest. It can affect the arms, legs, head, and torso.
5. Poor Coordination: Poor coordination may occur due to any kind of neurological disorder where there is an inability to control muscle movements.
6. Gait Instability: Gait instability is one of the major problems that may arise due to uncoordinated movements of the extremities causing excessive falls. This leads to unsteady gait called ataxia which is a characteristic symptom of the neurological disorder of the spine.
7. Rigidity, Stiffness, and Muscle Spasticity: Spasticity is known as unusual stiffness of the muscle which may occur for any kind of muscle, especially on the lower legs. This causes unusual tightness or increased muscle tone resulting in difficulty in walking.
8. Numbness: If you are experiencing tingling or numbness in the upper and lower extremities, there could be various reasons. This is also called paraesthesia where you could lose some sensation of the soles. One of the reasons is cervical and lumbar radiculopathy.
9. Vertigo: There are many reasons for dizzy spells or vertigo such as dehydration, high blood pressure, hearing issues, or the nervous system could be involved at times. Vertigo is a spinning sensation that may make you feel off-balance.
10. Vision Problems: Neurological problems may involve vision issues such as blurring of vision or double vision. This is seen in extreme causes of neurological disorders. This is mainly due to abnormality with your eyes, brain, and nervous system.
11. Difficulty Swallowing: One more rare disorder that is seen in extreme cases of neurological issues is difficulty in swallowing. This is also called dysphagia. This could be because of brain stroke, head injury, or dementia.
12. Slurred Speech: Speech problems may arise in extreme cases of the neurological disorder. This is also called dysarthria. This is mainly due to facial paralysis or tongue weakness.
13. Sleeping Issues: Many problems may arise due to lack of sleep (insomnia). These are obstructive sleep apnea, parasomnias, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
14. Poor Cognition: Alzehimer and Parkinson’s may cause memory loss or poor cognition. This is typically seen in elderly age groups due to the degeneration of brain cells and nerves.
15. Difficulty in Motor Movements: In case of paralysis, there may be difficulty in motor movements which may lead to disability. This is called hemiplegia or paraplegia.
If you are resonating with any signs and symptoms, it is advisable to consult the doctor the right way to stop the progression of neurological problems. Your doctor will prescribe you a certain diagnostic test and treatment to help you recover from your neurological issue.
The diagnosis of any neurological problem is done under the supervision of a doctor through an examination of mental status, cranial nerves, motor function, sensory function, and reflexes. Your doctor will also prescribe you certain test which includes:
The treatment for neurological problems is generally target-specific based on the diagnosis. The treatment includes the following:
Look out for various signs and symptoms in case of neurological problems. If you experience any of the usual symptoms such as muscle weakness, tremors, recurrent headaches, vertigo, or dizziness, it is important to consult your doctor. Schedule an appointment with one of the doctors at GS Super Speciality Hospital, who will guide you accordingly to diagnose and start treatment for your neurological problem.
The most common neurological problem is stroke which has sudden onset and can be quite debilitating. It is recommended to consult your doctor regularly with routine check-ups if you have a strong family history of stroke.
Neurological problems can be taken care of with specific lines of treatment to relieve symptoms, slow down the progression of the disease, and provide emotional support for overall well-being and to stabilize the condition which can help in better recovery.