What are the most common neurological disorders?

Common neurological disorders

There are several types of neurological problems. Knowing about them will help you to understand the pain of others. Take a look at some of them listed here.

• Seizures

Seizures occur due to alteration in the electrical activity of the brain. There are numerous signs and symptoms that can indicate a seizure. Though they vary, there are some common ones. For instance, you can encounter anxiety, fear, confusion, and sudden jerking motions of your legs and hands.

In most cases, seizures happen due to epilepsy. But, they can also be because of high fever, alcohol withdrawal, specific medications, etc. It is vital that you seek medical immediately.

• Headache

It might come as a surprise, but a headache does fall under the category of neurological disorders. There are different kinds of headaches, namely – tension, cluster, and migraine headaches. If you constantly suffer from recurring headaches, visiting a doctor is a wise decision. Now, this condition can result from temporal arteritis, increased blood pressure, etc.

Healthcare professionals usually prescribe treatment depending on the type.

• Dementia

Dementia is a common diagnosis that can lead to the occurrence of several neurological disorders. It usually advances with age. Moreover, it leads to the gradual degradation of the brain tissue. It can affect various regions of the brain including memory, thinking, behavior, and memory.

It is important that you schedule medical consultations with urgency. If you leave dementia untreated, it will only worsen with time.

• Stroke

Stroke is by far the most common but sudden neurological disorder. Sometimes, stroke can happen within minutes, while in some cases, you can exude certain symptoms. It occurs when the blood cannot flow to the heart smoothly.

The signs include an imbalanced smile, difficulty in raising hands, slurred speech, blurred vision, headache, confusion, etc. If you are having a stroke, you must get immediate medical attention. Apart from medications, changes in lifestyle can also help you combat the condition.

• Parkinson’s disease

Another major neurological disorder is Parkinson’s disease. It usually affects people in the age group of 60 and interferes with movement. In this, the brain cells that produce dopamine are degraded. There are several symptoms like muscle stiffness, slurred speech, inability to smell, tremors in fingers, etc.

There are different diagnostic tests that aid doctors to offer medical help. In some cases, you can deal with Parkinson’s diseases through medications.

• Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the insulated portion of the nerve cells. Due to the destruction of this layer, the nerves get damaged. Different people can have varied symptoms.

You can have mild symptoms. But, in extreme cases, people can lose the ability to write, walk, and even speak. Though there is no treatment to cure MS, you can still slow down the disease. Physical therapy, along with other medications, can help.

• Epilepsy

Epilepsy causes unusual brain activity and can lead to seizures. In 50% of the cases, the cause remains unidentifiable. But, there are some recognized causes like strokes, head trauma, genetics, etc.

Some of the symptoms include anxiety, temporary confusion, lack of awareness, etc. There is no permanent treatment for epilepsy, but you can at least slow down the progress. If left untreated, it can cause brain damage.

• Cerebral aneurysm

Also known as a brain aneurysm, the cerebral aneurysm is a ballooning within the blood vessel inside the brain. When the aneurysm expands, it can rupture and cause bleeding. At this point, the medical term used is subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It may lead to hemorrhagic stroke.

When it is in an unruptured state, there are some symptoms. These are – pain in the eye, slow eye movement, issues with vision, etc. Various treatment methods are available for brain aneurysms. However, it depends on the size, location, and state of rupture. Also, it is vital to get emergency medical service on the occurrence of ruptured aneurysms.

• Ataxia

Ataxia causes loss of muscle control in the legs and hands. It can ultimately lead to disturbances in coordination and balance. It can happen due to nerve damage, tumor, stroke, deficiency in disorder, etc.

There are some symptoms of this disorder that you can look out for. These include slurred speech, abnormal eye movements, and issues with balance, etc. Sadly, there is no cure related to the disorder. Doctors often prescribe specific medications and other therapeutic methods to slow the disease.

Conclusion

These are some of the most common neurological disorders. It is no doubt that there are many more. Often, it becomes difficult to keep a track of these diseases. But, when your loved ones suffer from such ailments, it becomes necessary to know more. With this knowledge, you can search for medical experts and get help. Due to technological advancements in the medical field, there are numerous treatment options available.