Nerve and Brain Disorders

Risk Factors

The exact cause of many nerve disorders is often not fully understood. Disorders of the nervous system may be caused by a chemical imbalance, compromise to the immune system, injury or trauma, degeneration of the nerves or surrounding tissue, complications from other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes or other factors. Below are risk factors for two common disorders, Stroke and Lower Back disorders.

Stroke
Stroke is a "brain attack" where the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is interrupted. A stroke happens when an artery becomes blocked or ruptured. Most strokes occur when blood clots or when the gradual build-up of plaque and other fatty deposits block arteries. Arteries can rupture when weak spots on the blood vessel wall break. This weak spot is called an aneurysm.

According to the National Stroke Association, stroke strikes nearly 500,000 Americans. Most strokes, however, can be prevented by reducing your risk and recognizing the symptoms.

Reducing Risk
Some stroke risk factors (such as age, gender, race, diabetes, and family history of stroke) are beyond your control. The stroke risk factors you can control are divided into two categories: medical and lifestyle-related. Medical stroke risk factors include:

• Previous stroke: If blood clots or blocked arteries caused your first stroke, medication and/or surgery may reduce your risk of having another stroke.
• Previous episode of stroke symptoms known as a transient ischemic attack or "TIA": again medication and/or surgery may reduce your risk of having a full stroke.
• High Blood Pressure: For most people, high blood pressure can be controlled through diet, exercise, weight loss, medication, or a combination of these.
• Heart Disease, especially a specific type of irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (AF) which can cause blood clots to form and travel to the brain: AF can be treated with medication. Other heart disease may be helped by surgery, medication, diet, exercise, or a combination of these.
• Carotid artery disease, where the arteries carrying the main blood supply between the heart and the brain, are blocked by the build-up of plaque and other fatty deposits: Depending on the degree of blockage surgery to clear blocked arteries may be indicated. Medication and diet may also help reduce your risk.

Lifestyle-related stroke risk factors include:

• Smoking: According to the National Stroke Association, if you quit smoking today, your stroke risk from smoking will reduce significantly within two years. Within five years, your stroke risk from smoking would be the same as someone who's never smoked.
• High Cholesterol
• Lack of Exercise
• Obesity
• Drinking too much alcohol

Recognizing Symptoms The most common symptoms of stroke are:

• Numbness weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg-especially on one side of the body
• Sudden blurred or decreased vision in one or both eyes
• Difficulty speaking or understanding simple statements
• Dizziness, loss of balance, or loss of coordination, particularly when combined with another symptom.

Less common but important symptoms:

• Sudden, unexplainable and intense headache
• Sudden nausea, fever and vomiting (distinguishable from a viral illness by the speed of onset, i.e. minutes or hours vs. several days
• Brief loss of consciousness or period of decreased consciousness (fainting, confusion, convulsions or coma)

Never ignore stroke symptoms! Call 911 or your emergency response number immediately! Emergency medical treatment will determine if you are having a stroke. There are treatments that could save your life and greatly improve your chances for successful rehabilitation and recovery.

Lower Back Injuries
Sixty to 80 percent of all Americans have low back pain some time in their lives. Fortunately, 90 percent of sudden back injuries heal on their own within eight to 12 weeks. Back injuries include bruises, muscle sprains, strains and spasms, ruptured discs, and stress fractures of the spine.

The risk for back injury increases with:

• Extra weight from fat around the belly
• Poor posture
• Decreased strength or flexibility
• Not bending or lifting the right way
• Hard blows or falls

It is important that you protect your back:

• When lifting heavy items, bend your knees, not your back. Do not jerk or lunge to lift the load.
• Sleep on your side with your legs drawn up slightly toward your chest. Do not sleep on your stomach.
• Stretch and move every so often when sitting for long periods of time. Use a small pillow for back support.
• Lose extra pounds if you are overweight.
• Ask your health care provider for advice on back exercises. Exercise helps to strengthen the back and increase flexibility.