Download Diseases/Disorders of the Nervous System

Diseases/Disorders of the Nervous
System
Categories of Conditions
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Trauma
Structural abnormalities
Degenerative
Infectious
Mental Health
Concussion
• Traumatic blow to the
head.
• No visible injury to the
head.
• May have a brief loss of
consciousness.
CVA: Stroke
• Occurs when:
– A blood clot either blocks an artery;
– A blood vessel bursts;
altering the flow of blood to the brain.
• Brain cells begin to die and
brain damage proceeds.
• Abilities of that area are
adversely affected and can
even be lost.
• Implications of a stroke can
include a loss of speech,
movement, and memory.
Categories of Conditions
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Trauma
Infectious
Structural abnormalities
Degenerative
Mental Health
Infections
• Encephalitis
– Inflammation of the brain.
– Usually caused by a virus.
– Symptoms include:
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headache
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Seizures
• Body aches and pains
• Meningitis
– Inflammation of the meninges;
– Caused by bacteria, virus, or
fungus.
– Symptoms include:
• Photophobia
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
Shingles
• Reactivation of the virus that
causes chicken pox.
• Virus hibernates in nerve cells
and can cause periodic
inflammation throughout life.
• Can not cure but can decrease
periods of reactivation through
medication and stress control.
Categories of Conditions
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Trauma
Infectious
Structural abnormalities
Degenerative
Mental Health
Epilepsy
• Recurring seizure
episodes due to abnormal
over-activity of neurons.
• Cause is unknown; can
be controlled through
medication.
• Can exhibit as:
– Grand mal: convulsive
seizures
– Petit mal: absence
seizures.
Hydrocephalus
• Build up of fluid inside the
brain.
• “Water on the Brain”
• Can be due to blockage
of CSF in the ventricles.
• Can be treated with the
placement of a shunt to
drain excess fluid.
• Goal is to reduce brain
damage due to excess
swelling and pressure in
the brain.
Categories of Conditions
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Trauma
Infectious
Structural abnormalities
Degenerative
Mental Health
Alzheimer’s Disease
• Progressive, fatal brain
disease.
• Most common form of
dementia.
• Progressive loss of
cerebral brain matter
due to build up of
abnormal proteins.
• Affects up to 5 million
Americans.
Parkinson’s Disease
• Gradual degeneration of
nerve cells that control body
movement.
• Typically begins in late 50’s,
early 60’s.
• More common in men than
women.
• Initial symptoms include:
– Weakness
– Trembling
– Numbness
Multiple Sclerosis
• Results from loss of
insulation (demyelination)
of motor nerve fibers.
• Progressive loss of motor
function.
• Initial symptoms include:
– Weakness
– Headaches
– Trembling
– Vision loss
Cerebral Palsy
• Abnormalities in parts of the
brain that control muscle
movement and coordination.
• Can occur due to problems
during pregnancy and/or
delivery.
• Signs usually appear before
the age of three.
• Can affect muscle
movement, hearing, vision,
learning, and speech.
• Symptoms include:
– Stiff/tight muscles
– Spasticity in movement
– Lack of muscle tone.
Categories of Conditions
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Trauma
Infectious
Structural abnormalities
Degenerative
Mental Health
Schizophrenia
• Disturbance in thinking, emotional
reactions, and social behavior.
• Results in chronic illness and
personality changes leading to
hallucinations, delusions, and apathy.
• Affects about 2 millions Americans.
• Diagnosed between 15 and 25 years of
age.
• Treated with behavior modification and
medications.
OCD
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Affects 3.3 million American adults
• Ritual or repetitive behaviors that
interfere with a person’s ability to
concentrate, function at work, or
interact in social situations.
• Can be treated with medications and
behavior therapy.
Depression
• Feelings of hopelessness, sadness,
pessimism, and loss of interest in life.
• Most common mental health disorder.
• Affects 9.8 million Americans age 18
and older.
• 80% responds to medications and
psychotherapy.
• Causes are typically biological/chemical
and environmental.
Other Nervous System Conditions
• Headaches
• Phobias
• Primary brain
cancer
• Addiction
• Huntington’s
disease
• Autism
• Anxiety
• Tourettes
• Lou Gehrig’s
Disease
• ADD/ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Bipolar Disorder
• Pain
• Neurological AIDS
• Neurological
Syphilis
• And more….