Symptoms of spinal cord injury may present as emergency symptoms or more generalized symptoms that mimic other disorders. A common misconception is that spinal cord injuries always involve paralysis, when in fact, they may only involve pain....
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that more than 700,000 people suffer a stroke each year in the United States. A stroke causes damage to the brain and the effects of a stroke depend on the extent of the brain...
There are two types of carotid arteries in the body. One type supplies blood rich in oxygen to the brain, while the other supplies the face neck and scalp with oxygen rich blood. Carotid artery disease is a condition characterized by clogged...
Tumors of the frontal lobe of the brain produce many different symptoms, some common to all brain tumors, and some specific to this location. The exact nature of the symptoms depends on the precise location of the tumor within the frontal lobes....
Piroxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat the inflammation and pain of arthritis, according to Drugs.com. Your doctor may need to adjust your Piroxicam dose if you have a history of such ailments as heart attack,...
Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) is a condition in which a patient has too much potassium circulating in the blood. Hyperkalemia is a serious condition that slows the heart rate, affects the kidneys and changes sodium levels in the body....
Temozolomide, a drug that belongs to a family of drugs called antineoplastics, is used to treat certain types of brain cancer in adults. According to the Mayo Clinic, it may also be used to treat metastatic melanoma, a type of brain cancer that...
The papaya enzyme tablet may help you digest your food more efficiently, especially if you have gastric disturbances such as indigestion, nausea and heartburn. Drugs.com also states the derivative of papaya known as papain can help rid your body...
An injury to the spinal cord can have permanent consequences. The spinal cord and brain are the most important parts of the central nervous system. The result of these injuries may be paralysis, which permanently affects the ability to move....
Motor vehicle accidents, falls, high contact sports accidents and acts of violence are the most common causes of paralysis. These traumas can cause a broken neck or broken back and damage the spinal cord, which in turn causes paralysis. The...
The University of Maryland Medical Center describes carotid artery surgery as a complex procedure carried out to restore proper blood flow to the brain. The carotid artery is an artery located on either side of the neck which brings the necessary...
Wheelchair basketball essentially follows the same rules and regulations as basketball. Most players in wheelchair basketball have physical disabilities that prohibit them from using their legs. Wheelchair athletes are as intense as able-bodied...
Passive range of motion exercises are, as described by Drugs.com, a type of physical therapy exercises performed on an individual by someone else. For example, a person experiencing lower-body paralysis cannot exercise his own legs, but another...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is referred to as a "silent killer" because it can lead to strokes without previous symptoms, explains the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Hypertension is a measure of the force of blood pumped in the blood...
An inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, meningitis causes changes to the cerebrospinal fluid, which protects the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial, fungal and viral infections can cause meningitis, although Medline Plus...
Your body needs adequate levels of potassium to function properly -- high or low potassium can be equally dangerous. Potassium problems often result from diet, various illnesses and medical conditions, or they can be a side effect of certain...
According to the National MS Society, MS, or multiple sclerosis, is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. In MS, the body’s immune system attacks myelin, which is the fatty substance around...
Valium, or diazepam, is one of the best-known anti-anxiety drugs. Doctors prescribe it most often to treat anxiety disorders and for short-term relief from extreme nervousness and tension. Valium enhances the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid...
Potassium is a major cation inside cells that plays an important role in the action potential of cells. A potassium imbalance will affect nerve and muscle cells by causing hyperexcitability or depressed excitability. Any deficit or excess of...
Clostridium botulinum is a type of toxic bacterium in soil that can be present in certain types of food--especially fruits and vegetables that have been canned at home. Consuming a contaminated food product can cause a patient to develop botulism,...
Most cases of food poisoning are caused by one of many bacteria. The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine (HMC) points out that the most common bacteria to cause food poisoning include salmonella, staphylococcus aureus, escherichia...
In an instant, a stroke can wipe away a lifetime of memories, abilities and comprehension of the world. Also known as brain attack, a stroke occurs when the brain is robbed of the flow of blood, either through blockage or a bursting blood vessel...
Several heart diseases can be caused by a poor diet. According to the MedlinePlus website, consuming a healthy diet is a major factor in decreasing your likelihood for cardiovascular system problems or illnesses. Along with exercising regularly...
Influenza is typically a self-limited illness characterized by fever, dry cough, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. However, the flu can cause serious complications, especially in people with preexisting health...
The common side effects of a stroke depend greatly on the location of the brain affected by the stroke. Side effects are not always immediately apparent with some manifesting weeks or months after the attack. Most effects are neurologic in nature,...
The brain needs both blood (oxygen) and sugar (glucose) to function properly. A stroke is loss of brain function from loss of blood flow to the brain or a ceribrovascular accident (CVA). A stroke is a medical emergency. The illnesses that mimic...
Numerous conditions may benefit from a low cholesterol diet. According to MayoClinic.com, cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in the fats, or lipids, in a person's blood. The body needs cholesterol to synthesize hormones and repair cell...
Paraplegia, a condition linked to spinal cord injuries, causes lower body paralysis. While persons with paraplegia may have partial or complete upper body mobility, muscles may atrophy and cardiovascular health may decline because of inactivity. A...
Multiple sclerosis is a disabling disease of unknown origin. It commonly affects middle-aged women by attacking the protective sheath covering the nervous system called the myelin, causing causing an interruption in neurological impulses between...
Paralysis is a complete loss of strength or ability to move a particular limb or muscle group because nerves are affected or injured in some way. Watch this video to learn more about this condition and how to treat it.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that causes signs and symptoms ranging from rash and flu-like fever and body aches to more serious ones including joint swelling, weakness, fatigue and temporary paralysis. Lyme disease is caused by the...
