Epilepsy is one of those chronic conditions that have the ability to disrupt an individual’s life. It even presents a series of dangerous situations as the individual with epilepsy is vulnerable to seizures that can occur at any time, at any place. Living with epilepsy is quite difficult for the person and their family, and the fact that there’s no cure for this condition can make leading a normal life incredibly difficult. For an individual with epilepsy, the onus lies on being seizure free with minimal side effects as that’s the ultimate achievement for someone dealing with this condition. In addition to the anti-epileptic medication that doctors often prescribe to people with epilepsy, there are various other effective ways of living a seemingly normal life with epilepsy. These tips coupled with appropriate treatment methods would go a long way in helping people deal with epilepsy. Maintain an epilepsy diary One of the best ways to keep a track of the epileptic seizures that one experiences is to maintain an epilepsy diary. You need to write down when the seizures occur what happens and what you were doing then. You have to be very precise about noting the seizures and have to mention whether you experienced any strange sensations and the frequency of the same.

A rare and severe type of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) begins during childhood years, that is, between the age of 2 and 6 years. Children with LGS frequently suffer from different forms of seizures, which might trigger developmental delays and learning difficulties, which can range from moderate to severe. Moreover, some kids might even have behavioral issues. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can be challenging to treat; however, several clinical trials are underway to design effective treatment plans. In the meantime, it is essential for parents to seek appropriate medical help, and, at the same time, provide their child with unconditional emotional and practical support. Causes of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome The exact cause of this disease is still undetermined, but medical investigators believe that the following conditions can be responsible for it: Cortical dysplasia, where certain nerve fibers in the brain fail to align properly while the child is still in the womb Brain infections such as encephalitis, meningitis, and rubella Tuberous sclerosis, where noncancerous growths develop in multiple organs, including the brain West’s syndrome, a condition where seizures start during infancy Lack of oxygen during birth Serious injuries to the brain during pregnancy or delivery, which could be possibly caused due to premature birth or low birth weight Certain types of genes Treating Lennox-Gastaut syndrome The treatment plan for LGS will depend on factors such as the frequency and intensity of the seizures.

When the cells in the brain start multiplying abnormally and rigorously, they form a mass that is medically addressed as a tumor. A tumor in the brain can lead to cancer and can, therefore, be fatal. However, a benign tumor does not become cancerous and can be treated. There are around 130 different types of brain tumors that have been named after the type of cell they developed from or the area in the brain they grew in. Some common types of brain tumors are mentioned below: Acoustic neuroma Brain metastases Choroid plexus carcinoma Embryonal tumors Ependymoma Glioma Meningioma Pediatric brain tumors Pituitary tumors The symptoms of a brain tumor often depend on its location. This means that if the location of the tumor is close to the part of the brain that controls the eyes, a symptom will be a blurry vision. Therefore, the scope of the signs and symptoms of brain tumor can be vast. However, there are still some signs and symptoms that are common in maximum cases of brain tumor that can help one identify it in its early stages: Seizure : Seizures as signs are often independent of the location or the size of a tumor.

Understanding the causes and symptoms of a brain hemorrhage Hemorrhage is the medical term for blood loss. The condition results in significant bleeding which can be life-threatening in many cases. The bleeding is mainly classified into internal and external hemorrhage depending on the source of the blood loss. Common external bleeds occur from the mouth, lips, tongue, and the nose. Anything and everything from a simple papercut to injuries can cause external bleeds. Knees, ankle, elbow, and joints are the more common areas where internal bleeding is possible. A hemorrhage can also occur in large muscle groups as a result of an injury or medical condition. Brain hemorrhage is one of the more severe and possibly life-threatening conditions when it comes to the sudden loss of blood. It is a type of stroke caused due to the bursting of an artery in the brain resulting in localized bleeding in the surrounding tissues. The sudden and unexpected blood loss irritates the brain tissue and causes swelling. The blood pool puts additional pressure on nearby brain cells blocking vital blood supply points that results in the deterioration of healthy cells. Mentioned below are some of the causes of a brain hemorrhage: There are several risk factors and triggers that increase the chances of a brain hemorrhage.

Dementia is caused due to damage to nerve cells in the brain. The damage affects the ability of the brain cells to communicate with one another. This affects the thinking, language, and behavior of a person. Depending on the area of the brain where the damage has occurred, dementia affects different people in different ways. The different types of dementia are grouped on the basis of which part of the brain is affected or whether it is progressive or not. Non-progressive dementia is caused as a reaction to certain medication or vitamin deficiency. With appropriate treatment, a person may recover from this type of dementia. Progressive dementia gets worse over time. Types of progressive dementia Alzheimer’s disease : This is the most common form of dementia in people older than 65 years. There are no known specific causes of Alzheimer’s; genetic factors are often responsible for the onset of this type of dementia. Vascular dementia : This type of dementia occurs when there is damage in the vessels that supply blood to the brain. The damage is caused by illnesses such as stroke that affect the blood vessels. Lewy body dementia : This is one of the most common forms of progressive dementia.

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cells naturally produced by the body, essential for the normal function of the immune system. A deficiency of these white blood cells results in a condition called neutropenia. Neutrophils are essential for fighting certain bacteria and viruses that can cause an infection. The bone marrow in one’s body is primarily responsible for producing neutrophils to boost the immune system and maintain overall health. Chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer is one of the common causes of neutropenia through destruction. In addition to destroying the cancer cells, chemotherapy also damages the healthy white blood cells thus weakening the immune system. Radiation therapy for targeted treatment also has the same effect on healthy neutrophil cells. The healthy cells can also be destroyed as a result of side effect of certain medications used to treat an overactive thyroid, anti-inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and irregular heart rhythm. Infections including chicken pox, Epstein-Barr, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, measles, salmonella infection, and sepsis can affect optimum neutrophil levels in the immune system. The condition can also develop due to certain autoimmune diseases and bone marrow disorders. The condition can affect men and women exhibiting the following symptoms.

There are certain psychological conditions that can interfere with an individual’s normal functioning. One such condition that is known to affect children, teenagers, and continues into adulthood is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In fact, ADHD is one of the most common mental disorder that is known to affect children. ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity and lack of impulse control. Moreover, children diagnosed with ADHD have a hard time concentrating on their tasks and paying attention. Often, parents trivialize these symptoms to be the over-enthusiastic tendencies of a growing child. However, ignoring these symptoms will only worsen the child’s condition and pose hurdles in the child’s development. So, it is imperative for the parents to understand the causes and identify the symptoms of ADHD as it will help them seek immediate help. Causes of ADHD Though the exact causes of ADHD remain unknown, the following factors are linked to the development of ADHD: It is believed that ADHD runs in the family. The brain chemicals in people with ADHD are supposedly disproportionate. The areas of the brain that control attention are less active in children. Smoking, drinking, substance abuse, poor nutrition, and infections during pregnancy can increase the chances of the baby developing ADHD.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia that affects parts of the brain controlling thought, memory, and language. The condition in its advanced stages can affect a person’s daily routine in a severe manner completely limiting their ability to function without external help. There is no known cause of Alzheimer’s and the risk of developing the condition is high in people above the age of sixty. Note that the progressive nature of the condition makes age one of the primary risk factors. Studies show that Alzheimer’s can also develop due to changes in genetics. Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include memory loss, changes in mood and personality, behavioral changes, decreased judgment, and difficulty in completing normal tasks. Alzheimer’s is broadly classified into three stages depending on the severity of the symptoms as detailed below: Early Stages The severity of symptoms in the early stages is quite low and does not necessarily affect one’s personal routine. Minor memory lapses in the early stages are usually nothing more than occasionally forgetting familiar words or the location of objects around one’s workplace or house. Other common difficulties in the early stages of Alzheimer’s include problems with planning and organizing, misplacing a valuable object, and forgetting any material read recently.

Parkinson’s is a disease of the central nervous system that affects a person’s movement and behavior over the years. The symptoms of Parkinson’s are subtle and develop slowly with some so faint that they are difficult to identify and associate to the condition. The symptoms are mild during the initial developing years but become severe due to the progressive nature of the condition. The central nervous system is the primary means of communication connecting the brain to all parts of the body wherein neurons or active nerve cells carry and process the signals sent back and forth to trigger a certain response from the body to control motor skills or other associated activity. A decrease in the production of dopamine results in the nerve endings losing their functionality, leading to Parkinson’s disease. There is no known cure for it so most people focus on palliative care once the disease progresses to the worst stages. The symptoms of Parkinson’s are subtle and develop over time. However, it is possible to identify the following early signs that might indicate a developing condition including tremors, rigid movements, and changes in behavior. Weight loss Mild to moderate weight loss can indicate subtle physical changes in the body.