### Get to Know the Nervous System
Nerve damage can lead to severe health issues, so it’s crucial to address any concerns right away. If you’re even a little bit worried, schedule an appointment with your GP.
### Understanding the Nervous System
Let’s dive into what the nervous system actually does. It’s a complex network that regulates and coordinates all your body’s activities. The nervous system is divided into two main parts: the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, found around your belly button and chest.
### Components of the Nervous System
The nervous system consists of several key organs, including the eyes, ears, sensory organs for taste and smell, and sensory receptors in your skin, joints, muscles, and other body parts.
### Nervous System Disorders
The nervous system is quite sensitive and can be affected by many disorders caused by trauma, infections, degenerations, structural defects, tumors, blood flow problems, or autoimmune issues.
**1. Trauma:** This includes events like strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIA), which can lead to vascular issues like subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage/hematoma, or extradural hemorrhage.
**2. Infections:** The nervous system can suffer from infections like meningitis, encephalitis, polio, and epidural abscesses.
**3. Structural Disorders:** Conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, such as Bell’s palsy, cervical spondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tumors, peripheral neuropathy, or Guillain-Barre syndrome.
**4. Functional Disorders:** These can cause problems ranging from headaches and epilepsy to dizziness and neuralgia.
**5. Degeneration:** Though rare, nervous system degeneration can lead to diseases like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Huntington’s chorea, or Alzheimer’s. These scenarios are rare but severe.
### Recognizing Symptoms
Symptoms of nervous system disorders can vary widely, but some common signs to watch out for include:
– Persistent or sudden headaches
– Numbness or tingling sensations
– Sudden muscle weakness
– Blurred or lost vision
– Unexpected memory loss
– Coordination and balance issues
– Muscle tightness or wasting
– Slurred speech
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical advice promptly.