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Friday 11 May 2012

Dont Ignore Severe Headache!!!



When the brain is distressed,it sends out signals through severe headaches and migraines that there is something wrong with it.We should know that a headache can be serious if it is recurring,or is followed by vomiting,giddiness,blurring of vision,weakness or numbness in any part of the body,or is accompanied by loss of consciousness,seizures and fits.If any of these symptoms occur,visit a neurologist or a neurosurgeon immediately and get yourself thoroughly examined.Symptoms like depression,loss of memory,and loss of smell and hearing ability are also associated with more serious conditions in the brain.

Causes


Some of these symptoms can be caused by brain haemorrhage,tumours,water logging within the brain or infections like tuberculosis.Diabetes or hypertension can also lead to haemorrhages and brain hypoxia.Children can contract lifethreatening meningitis,which is characterized by high fever with seizures,stiffness of the neck and altered behaviour.
Tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),computed tomography (CT scan) and lumbar puncture can help diagnose brain diseases.An MRI is harmless and can be done on children and pregnant women too.CT scans involve exposure to radiation and is better avoided by pregnant women.Once the diagnosis is done,the next line of treatment is decided by the doctor.




Treatment

Most patients with brain diseases,however,will require tertiary care facilities for acute management and follow up over along period.In more serious conditions,the patient may require ventilator support,where oxygen is pumped into the patients lungs,which contains the damage to the brain due to hypoxia and reduces pressure on the brain.Patients may also require neurosurgery for certain conditions.
Minimally invasive neurosurgeries like endoscopies and angiograms greatly help reduce mortality and morbidity.By reducing the duration of stay in hospitals,patients are also kept away from infections acquired from hospitals.With a combination of modern anaesthesia and minimum invasive surgical techniques and with state-of-the-art equipment,it is now possible to bring down complications like neurological deficits in patients and also curtail risks of infection to a large extent.Refer

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