Common Neurological Disorders
Headache / سر درد
Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, tension, migraines, and head injuries. Symptoms of headaches can include pain on one or both sides of the head, throbbing or pulsating pain, nausea, sensitivity to light, sounds, smell, and touch, and temporary loss of consciousness.
The treatment of headaches depends on the diagnosis and symptoms. Self-care steps that may be helpful in some less serious cases include resting in a dark, quiet room and taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin. If the headache recurs often, lasts longer than 24 hours, or does not improve with rest, it is important to see a doctor.
If you notice pain of sudden onset, confusion, slurring or loss of consciousness, weakness in any part of the body, blurry vision, nausea and vomiting, or high fever, it is important to see a doctor immediately.
If you have a headache after a head injury or fall, fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking, it is important to get a prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Seizure / Epilepsy / دورے یا مرگی
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures. The diagnosis of epilepsy is based on a review of symptoms and medical history. Your doctor may order several tests to diagnose epilepsy and determine the cause of seizures. Your evaluation may include an EEG brain activity test, a CT scan, and pinpointing seizure location.
The main symptom of epilepsy is recurring seizures. Your symptoms, however, vary depending on the type of seizure you have. Seizure signs and symptoms include temporary loss of awareness or consciousness, uncontrolled muscle movements, muscle jerking, loss of muscle tone, and blank stare or “staring into space” look.
The treatment of epilepsy depends on the type of seizures you have, your age, your overall health, and how often you have seizures. Treatment options include medications, surgery, and dietary therapy. The goal of treatment is to control seizures, minimize side effects, and improve quality of life.
Forgetfulness / Dementia / یاداشت کی کمی
Dementia is a group of symptoms that affects memory, thinking, and interferes with daily life. The symptoms include cognitive and sensory changes such as memory loss, difficulty in communication, reduced ability to organize, plan, reason, or solve problems, confusion, disorientation, difficulty with coordination and motor functions, loss of or reduced visual perception, metallic taste in the mouth, decreased sense of smell, and agnosia - unable to identify objects or persons. Psychological changes include changes in personality and behavior, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, mood swings, agitation, and apathy - lack of interest or emotions.
The primary cause of dementia is damage to brain cells. Causes for this damage include advanced age, family history, damage to blood vessels of the brain, accumulation of clumps of protein in the brain, genetic disorders such as Huntington’s disease, mental and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and depression, traumatic brain injury or repetitive brain injury as seen in boxers, infections which cause high fever, metabolic disorders such as thyroid problems and diabetes, certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, poisoning with heavy metals or pesticides, alcohol abuse, brain tumor or cancer, and enlarged structures of the brain.
Most types of dementia cannot be cured. Treatments aim at reducing symptoms and progression of the condition. Cholinesterase inhibitors help to improve memory and cognitive functioning. NMDA receptor antagonists improve learning and memory. Antipsychotics treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, and agitation. Occupational therapy makes the home environment safe and helps you cope with your condition. Always talk to your provider before starting anything. The environment can be modified by reducing noise and distraction to help dementia patients focus and work. Tasks can be modified by breaking them into simpler tasks to help patients retain focus. Foods to eat include fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet, Vitamin E supplements, fish in the diet to obtain adequate amounts of omega-3-fatty acids, low-fat or fat-free foods to manage high blood cholesterol, and using salt and sodium moderately. Foods to avoid include carbohydrate-rich foods to manage diabetes.
Diagnosis aims at finding at least two impaired mental functions that interfere with daily activities. The doctor may order several tests to confirm the diagnosis. Patient history includes family history or any other injuries to the head. Laboratory examination includes blood and spinal fluid examinations to check for infections, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal imbalance. Psychological examination determines mental health conditions causing dementia. Cognitive and neuropsychological tests evaluate thinking, memory, reasoning, judgment, language, and attention abilities. Neurological tests check for visual perception, movements, problem-solving, senses, balance, and reflexes. CT scan of the brain is done to check bleeding or tumor in the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain provides a detailed image of abnormalities of the brain. Positron emission tomography (PET) is done to check for brain activities.
Tremor / Parkinson’s Disease / رعشہ
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. A doctor trained in nervous system conditions (neurologist) will diagnose Parkinson's disease based on your medical history, a review of your signs and symptoms, and a neurological and physical examination. Your doctor may suggest a specific single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan called a dopamine transporter (DAT) scan.
Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include tremor, muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls. Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes, difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking.
For all patients with Parkinson disease, treatment is symptomatic, focused on improvement in motor (eg, tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia) and nonmotor (eg, constipation, cognition, mood, sleep) signs and symptoms. No disease-modifying pharmacologic treatments are available. Dopamine-based therapies typically help initial motor symptoms.
Backache / کمر درد
Back pain is a common condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, including muscle or ligament strain, bulging or ruptured disks, arthritis, skeletal irregularities, or osteoporosis. Symptoms of back pain can include a dull, aching sensation in the lower back, a stabbing or shooting pain that can radiate down the leg to the foot, an inability to stand up straight, limited flexibility, radiating pain down the buttocks, hip, or leg, reduced range of motion, sharp, stabbing pain, and worsening pain when bending, lifting, twisting, standing, or walking.
If you’re experiencing back pain, your doctor will likely perform a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may also order imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans, to help diagnose the cause of your back pain. Treatment for back pain depends on the underlying cause and may include rest, ice or heat therapy, physical therapy, pain medication, or surgery.
Stroke / فالج
Stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. Stroke symptoms include trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying, paralysis, numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body, slurred speech, confusion, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache with no known cause.
If you or someone you’re with may be having a stroke, pay particular attention to the time the symptoms began. Some treatment options are most effective when given soon after a stroke begins. Treatment for stroke depends on whether you’re having an ischemic stroke or a stroke that involves bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic). Ischemic stroke is treated by quickly restoring blood flow to the brain. This may be done with emergency IV medication. Hemorrhagic stroke is treated by controlling the bleeding and reducing pressure in the brain caused by the excess fluid.
Bells Palsy / لقوہ
Bell's palsy is a condition that causes temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in the face. The symptoms of Bell's palsy come on suddenly and may include:
- Rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of your face — occurring within hours to days
- Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eye or smiling
- Drooling
- Pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected side
- Loss of feeling in the face
- Increased sensitivity to sound in one ear
- Headache
- Loss of taste
There's no specific test for Bell's palsy. Your doctor will look at your face and ask you to move your facial muscles by closing your eyes, lifting your brow, showing your teeth and frowning, among other movements. Other conditions — such as a stroke, infections, Lyme disease, inflammatory conditions and tumors — can also cause facial muscle weakness, mimicking Bell's palsy. Treatment involves medications and therapies.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms may differ greatly from person to person and over the course of the disease depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Common symptoms include numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time, tingling, vision problems such as optic neuritis (blurriness and pain in one eye), changes in gait, fatigue, loss of balance or coordination, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment typically focuses on speeding recovery from attacks, reducing new radiographic and clinical relapses, slowing the progression of the disease, and managing MS symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary.
Common Psychiatric Disorders
Depression ڈپریشن یا اداسی
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but commonly include:
- Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
- Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
- Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
- Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
- Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
- Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
- Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
Depression is typically diagnosed based on the symptoms and severity of the symptoms. Treatment options include medications, psychotherapy, brain stimulation therapy, and complementary and alternative medicine.
Anxiety / پریشانی
Anxiety is a mental health condition that makes it difficult to get through your day. Symptoms include feelings of nervousness, panic, and fear as well as sweating and a rapid heartbeat. Anxiety disorders are a type of mental health condition. There are different types of anxiety disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, and Agoraphobia. To help diagnose generalized anxiety disorder, your doctor or mental health professional may do a physical exam to look for signs that your anxiety might be linked to medications or an underlying medical condition. Order blood or urine tests or other tests, if a medical condition is suspected.
Treatments include medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Certain antidepressants are also used to treat anxiety disorders. An anti-anxiety medication called buspirone may be prescribed. In limited circumstances, your doctor may prescribe other types of medications, such as sedatives, also called benzodiazepines, or beta-blockers.
Self-care steps that may be helpful in some less-serious cases include exercise daily, maintain a positive attitude, get enough sleep, learn what triggers anxiety and alleviating it, eat well-balanced diets, practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, stop smoking, and consumption of caffeinated drinks.
If you notice that the anxiety is interfering with daily tasks, it after a previous history of anxiety, the anxiety is accompanied by insomnia, depression is evident, or you are having suicidal thoughts, see a doctor immediately.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder / وہم
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects people of all ages and walks of life. It is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that are difficult to control. OCD can be a debilitating condition that interferes with daily life.
To help diagnose OCD, a doctor or mental health professional may do a psychological evaluation. This includes discussing your thoughts, feelings, symptoms, and behavior patterns to determine if you have obsessions or compulsive behaviors that interfere with your quality of life.
Symptoms of OCD include unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Compulsions typically have themes, such as washing and cleaning, checking, counting, orderliness, following a strict routine, and demanding reassurance. Examples of compulsion signs and symptoms include hand-washing until your skin becomes raw, checking doors repeatedly to make sure they're locked, and counting in certain patterns.
Treatment for OCD usually involves psychotherapy and medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that can help people with OCD learn to manage their symptoms. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) can also be used to treat OCD. The sooner OCD is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook.
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, it's important to seek help from a mental health professional. With the right treatment, it is possible to manage the symptoms of OCD and improve your quality of life.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment.
To help diagnose schizophrenia, a doctor or mental health professional may do a physical exam and order lab tests to rule out other medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms. They may also do a psychological evaluation to assess the person's mental health and determine if they have symptoms of schizophrenia.
Symptoms of schizophrenia involve a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior, and emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. Symptoms may include delusions, false beliefs that are not based in reality, hallucinations, hearing or seeing things that aren't there, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and negative symptoms, such as a lack of motivation or emotion.
Treatment for schizophrenia usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Antipsychotic medications can help reduce symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can help people with schizophrenia learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. The sooner schizophrenia is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook.
If you or someone you know is struggling with schizophrenia, it's important to seek help from a mental health professional. With the right treatment, it is possible to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia and improve your quality of life.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
To diagnose bipolar disorder, a doctor or mental health professional may do a physical exam and order lab tests to rule out other medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms. They may also do a psychological evaluation to assess the person's mental health and determine if they have symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder include mood swings, changes in energy and activity levels, and changes in sleep patterns. Manic episodes may include symptoms such as high energy, reduced need for sleep, and racing thoughts. Depressive episodes may include symptoms such as low energy, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating.
Treatment for bipolar disorder usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Mood stabilizers such as lithium and anticonvulsants can help reduce symptoms such as mood swings and mania. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can help people with bipolar disorder learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. The sooner bipolar disorder is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook.
If you or someone you know is struggling with bipolar disorder, it's important to seek help from a mental health professional. With the right treatment, it is possible to manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder and improve your quality of life.
ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.
To help diagnose ADHD, a doctor or mental health professional may do a physical exam and order lab tests to rule out other medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms. They may also do a psychological evaluation to assess the person's mental health and determine if they have symptoms of ADHD.
Symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Inattention symptoms include difficulty paying attention, forgetfulness, and distractibility. Hyperactivity symptoms include fidgeting, restlessness, and excessive talking. Impulsivity symptoms include interrupting others, acting without thinking, and taking unnecessary risks.
Treatment for ADHD usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines (Adderall) can help reduce symptoms such as inattention and hyperactivity. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can help people with ADHD learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. The sooner ADHD is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook.
If you or someone you know is struggling with ADHD, it's important to seek help from a mental health professional. With the right treatment, it is possible to manage the symptoms of ADHD and improve your quality of life.