Health And Diet

Neurological Disorders: Symptoms You Must Not Ignore

Each year millions of people get affected by several types of neurological disorders, being unaware of the early symptoms. Many people don’t even know they are suffering from any debilitating neurological conditions until it paralyses their normal lifestyle. It is always a good idea to listen to your body, acknowledge significant changes, and understand what the body wants to say.

As each individual may experience or possess symptoms differently, it becomes necessary to understand the early signs associated with neurological conditions. Following are the most common symptoms one must not ignore and seek the consultation of an expert neurologist immediately.

1.Pain

Is there any person who has not experienced pain in any form throughout their lifetime? Pain is one of the most common symptoms related to neurological diseases, as it is controlled through the central nervous system. We all experience different types of pain, such as in the neck, muscles or joints, back, or headaches. Over-exertion, stress, hormonal factors, and lifestyle changes are the common reasons behind occasional and mild pain. On the other hand, chronic and prolonged pain should be taken seriously as it could signify neurological conditions such as injury in the spinal cord, Huntington’s disease, diabetic neuropathy, or Alzheimer’s.

Headache, especially chronic ones, should never be ignored. It could be indicating underlying medical conditions, such as migraine, ruptured aneurysm, tumours, haemorrhage and other neurological conditions, requiring the immediate attention of the neurologist.

2.Slurred Speech

Speech problems are linked with several health conditions such as throat infections, ulcers, fatigue, or maybe the result of the deep influence of alcohol. When a person experiences a sudden change in normal speech pattern, it’s a matter of serious concern. Slurred speech is often related to disturbances in the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It is important to know the underlying medical reasons responsible for the condition, which include, recent head injury, trauma, brain tumour, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, Huntington’s disease or Guillain-Barre syndrome. Try to reach out for an emergency or critical care, if anyone shows signs of sudden speech problems.

3.Change in Vision

The occipital lobe of the brain is responsible for controlling sight. Any damage to this part may lead to partial or complete loss of vision. Some early signs, such as blurred or hazy vision, change in vision, photophobia, and double vision are signs of neurological vision impairment in a person. Other neurological diseases that can cause these unexpected problems in vision include ischemic optic neuropathy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, optic neuritis, or primary glaucomatous optic nerve disease.  However, early detection and preventive measures are always suggested to cope with such disorders.

4.Numbness

Partial or complete absence of sensation, tingling feeling or weakness, are some of the alarming signs of underlying neurological abnormalities. Due to these symptoms, a person may have difficulty in balancing, walking, coordination, driving or performing weight-bearing activities. However, sometimes medications and therapies help in the initial stage to overcome numbness. If not, a person should immediately consult a neurologist for further examination.

Some serious neurological disorders associated with the symptom of numbness are stroke, slipped disc, multiple sclerosis, tumours, pressure on nerves or peripheral neuropathy and others.

5.Difficulty in Sleep

Insomnia and Hypersomnia both are common sleep disorders that can affect the overall health of a person. In today’s world, the younger population is badly affected by sleeping disorders. In some cases, anxiety, depression, excess stress, restless leg syndrome, and unhealthy lifestyle patterns can be the reason behind the difficulty in sleeping.

If a person notices trouble in getting sound sleep, he should immediately consult with a neurologist. Negligence in these patterns could lead to developing serious conditions, such as delirium tremens, CNS lesions, Parkinson’s disease, or Morvan’s Chorea, altering the sleep mechanism of a person.

6.Unexplained Weight change

There are times when a significant change in body weight gets ignored. It is challenging to diagnose neurological conditions with acute bodily changes in the first place. However, according to a Neurologist at AMRI Hospitals, “Several neurological conditions affect hormones, leading to abnormal weight gain or loss. If a person notices a drastic change in weight for no known reason, it’s time to consult your doctor immediately.”

7.Memory Loss

As a person gets older, having a little difficulty with remembering things is understandable. However, if there are any abnormal changes in cognition, memory function, or other brain functions that seem drastic, you need the attention of a neurologist. It could be a sign of neurological diseases, like Agnosia or Alzheimer’s disease.  One should never ignore the condition of poor memory at a young age, which may increase the risk of developing life-altering conditions in future. It is advisable to consult a neurologist if there are sudden alterations in the ability to memorize short-term details such as forgetting scheduled appointments, the process of daily work, difficulty in remembering recent news, etc.

Conclusion

Often, undiagnosed neurological disorder triggers severe complications, making a person prone to life-threatening conditions. Make sure to consult an experienced neurologist and discuss if you are experiencing any abnormal symptoms. It is necessary to understand and detect early signs of neurological disorders so that you can seek immediate medical attention, receive a proper diagnosis, and timely treatment.

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