DAMAGE BRAIN INFO

Are Yoga And Meditation Good For My Brain? A Scientific Take On Stress Management

2010-01-07T18:13:00.002+07:00

Yoga, meditation, and visualization are all excellent ways to learn to manage your stress levels. Reducing stress, and the stress hormones, in your system is critical to your brain and overall fitness.

Why is this so? It’s clear that our society has changed faster than our genes. Instead of being faced with physical, immediately life-threatening crises that demand instant action, these days we deal with events and illnesses that gnaw away at us slowly, without any stress release.

Dr. Robert Sapolsky, in an interview about his book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, points out that humans uniquely “can get stressed simply with thought, turning on the same stress response as does the zebra.” But, the zebra releases the stress hormones through life-preserving action, while we usually just keep muddling along, getting more anxious by the moment.

Prolonged exposure to the adrenal steroid hormones like cortisol, released during the stress response, can damage the brain and block the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus, which is the key player in encoding new memories in your brain. Recent studies have shown these neurons can be regenerated with learning and environmental stimulation, but while short-term stress may improve attention and memory, chronic stress leads indirectly to cell death and hampers our ability to make changes and be creative enough to even think of possible changes to reduce the stress.

What are the best defenses against chronic stress?

- Exercise strengthens the body and can reduce the experience of stress, depression, and anxiety.

- Relaxation through meditation, tai chi, yoga, or other techniques to lower blood pressure, slow respiration, slow metabolism, and release muscle tension.

- Biofeedback programs that provide real-time information, allowing you to learn effective techniques for reducing stress levels.

- Empowerment, because attitudes of personal confidence and control of your environment resolve the stress response.

- Social network of friends, family, and even pets help foster trust, support, and relaxation.

If you want to learn more about the science behind these recommendations, you can enjoy these scientific papers:

- Bedard M, Felteau M, Mazmanian D, Fedyk K, Klein R, Richardson J, Parkinson W, Minthorn-Biggs MB. Pilot evaluation of a mindfulness-based intervention to improve quality of life among individuals who sustained traumatic brain injuries. Disabil Rehabil. 2003;25:722-31.

- Bremner JD. Traumatic stress: effects on the brain. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2006;8:445-61.

- Czeh B, Muller-Keuker JI, Rygula R, Abumaria N, Hiemke C, Domenici E, Fuchs E. Chronic Social Stress Inhibits Cell Proliferation in the Adult Medial Prefrontal Cortex: Hemispheric Asymmetry and Reversal by Fluoxetine Treatment. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2006 Dec 13; [Epub ahead of print].

- Warner-Schmidt JL, Duman RS. Hippocampal neurogenesis: opposing effects of stress and antidepressant treatment. Hippocampus. 2006;16:239-49.

- Sapolsky, RM. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers (Owl Books; 2004). ISBN: 0805073698

By: Alvaro Fernandez

Top 4 Nutrients For Brain Power

2010-01-07T18:07:00.001+07:00

The key strategy for tuning up the nervous system is to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to make healthy nerve cells, to protect them from damage, and to enhance their ability to carry out their functions. The results can be astounding. You can boost your mental alertness, increase concentration, promote learning, enhance both short-term and long-term memory, and keep your senses sharp. Your brain requires a constant source of high-quality nutrition.

The brain is so metabolically active that a deficiency of any of a number of nutrients can lead to poor mental function, depression, or other serious mental disorders. Since the neurons in your brain communicate through neurotransmitters, you need to supply your body with the raw materials needed to keep a constant supply of neurotransmitters available. There are more than fifty known neurotransmitters. Some are found only in the central nervous system, while others are active there and elsewhere in the body. Here are some nutrients for boosting your brain and nerve function.

1.Boost Choline Intake

Choline, a B vitamin-like substance, is a crucial ingredient in the membranes found in every one of your cells. Dietary or supplementary choline can boost the production of acetylcholine and thus is important for memory, learning, and mental alertness. Rich food sources of choline include lecithin, peanuts, wheat germ, and soy foods. Choline is also found in good levels in Brussels sprouts, oatmeal, soybeans, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. The best forms of choline for supplementation are phosphatidylcholine, glycerophosphocholine, and cytosine diphosphocholine, but supplementation is usually not necessary if you boost dietary sources.

2.Boost Your Antioxidant Intake

Vitamins C and E are found in high levels in the brain and nervous system. Because the brain cells are high in unsaturated fat, they are especially vulnerable to damage by free radicals. There is mounting scientific and clinical evidence that the higher the intake of antioxidants over time, the better the mental function later in life. A high intake of these nutrients is also associated with a significantly lower risk for both Alzhemier's and Parkinson's disease. Taking 500 to 1,500 mg of vitamin C and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E is recommended.

3.Balance Your Electrolytes

The ability of a nerve to fire depends on the presence of electrolytes minerals such as potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium dissolved in water. They are termed electrolytes to signify their critical role in conducting electricity in the human body. If you have too much sodium and too little potassium in your diet, the imbalance can slow down the ability of neurons to conduct signals. Boosting potassium and magnesium while restricting sodium intake is a very important dietary recommendation for tuning up brain and nervous system function. Eating more whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding high-salt processed foods and table salt is all that is needed for most people to get their potassium and sodium in balance.

4.Take B Vitamins

These vitamins are crucial for brain and nerve function. B1 and B2 help control the use of glucose by neurons. They also help your body make fatty acids needed to preserve the integrity of nerve cell membranes. Along with vitamin B5, they are important for making acetylcholine and thus for helping memory function. Vitamin B2 (niacin) is vital for proper mental function. People who suffer from niacin deficiency often exhibit signs of dementia. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) acts like a biological shuttle service, ferrying amino acids into the brain for its use in making neurotransmitters. Lack of B6 can cause abnormal brain wave patterns and a decrease in nervous system activity. Vitamin of B12 helps your brain make use of carbohydrates and proteins. It is also vital for producing the myelin sheath that protects the axons of your nerve cells. Folic acid works as a partner with vitamin B12 in many biochemical processes in the brain, including the manufacture of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Impaired mental acuity (or dementia) and depression are common symptoms of folic acid or B12 deficiency.
Deficiencies of these nutrients are common, especially in elderly subjects, and are an often overlooked cause of dementia and depression.

By: Raymond Lee Geok Seng

How To Treat Brain Tumor

2010-01-07T18:04:00.001+07:00

Brain tumor is a leading cause of tumor death, which has poorer survival rates than breast cancer, benign or malignant alike.

A traditional Chinese drink has been proved to be an effective treatment in inhibiting brain tumor growth. For thousands of years, two plant fruits, lycium barbarum and ligustrum lucidum, have been taken as drinks in many Chinese' daily lives. Chinese clinical studies have proved the ingredients in these two plant fruits are effective in inhibiting brain tumor growth.

The most common primary brain tumors are gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, vestibular schwannomas, and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (medulloblastomas). The term glioma includes astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, ependymomas, and choroid plexus papillomas.

Adult brain tumor is diagnosed and removed in surgery. If a brain tumor is suspected, a biopsy is done by removing part of the skull and using a needle to remove a sample of the brain tissue. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. If cancer cells are found, the doctor will remove as much tumor as safely possible during the same surgery. An MRI may then be done to determine if any cancer cells remain after surgery. Tests are also done to find out the grade of the tumor.

Brain tumors typically are categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary brain tumors originate in your brain and can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Secondary brain tumors result from cancer that began elsewhere and spread to your brain. Primary brain tumors are less common than secondary brain tumors.

Surgery is the mainstay of brain tumor treatment. It involves removing as much of the tumor as possible while trying to minimize damage to healthy tissue. Some tumors can be removed completely, while others can be removed only partially or not all. If a tumor is slow-growing, doctors may not operate immediately, but take a watch-and-wait approach.

The first approach employs natural proteins, called interferons, which are created by the immune system and are toxic to many different types of tumor cells. Lymphocytes, are cells that are able to fight cancer and can be grown in a laboratory and injected directly back into the tumor, to increase the bodys immune response. Lastly, a tumor vaccine can be created from brain tumor cells that are removed, modified and then transferred back to the patient. A tumor vaccine can create a strong immune system response against the tumor.

Chemotherapy, the use of medications to treat cancer, has played a major role in cancer treatment for half a century. Years of testing and research have proven chemotherapy to be effective and capable of prolonging life, reducing cancer-related symptoms such as pain, and in some instances curing cancer. Depending on a patient's situation, chemotherapy may be the only treatment given, or it may be used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy or other therapies.

Brain tumors can arise either from the brain itself (primary brain tumors: astrocytoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma), or its coverings (meningiomas, pituitary tumors, pineal tumors), or the nerves at the base of the brain (acoustic neuromas, schwannomas), or even from outside the brain (metastatic brain tumors) . This last case occurs when cancer cells travel through the bloodstream and lodge in the brain.

By: Peter Hutch

All About The Deadly Brain Cancer

2010-01-07T18:00:00.001+07:00

Brain tumors can indeed affect
the mind, emotions, and/or personality. Problems with memory, speech, and/or concentration may occur. Brain tumors that occur in children are described as supratentorial (in the upper part of the brain) or infratentorial (in the lowest part of the brain). Astrocytomas and ependymomas are common supratentorial tumors. Brain tumor treatments do carry side effects, such as hair loss and nausea. Ask your doctor about possible side effects and how best to cope with them.

Brain tumor symptoms vary, depending on the tumor size, type and location. Symptoms may occur when a tumor damages a certain area of the brain or presses on a nerve. Brain tumor patients will often have a primary caregiver, the main person who assists and cares for the patients needs. Communication between family members may become more difficult in addressing changes in roles and responsibilities. Brain tumors (whether primary or metastatic, benign or malignant) are usually treated with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy ? alone or in various combinations.

While it is true that radiation and chemotherapy are more often used for malignant, residual or recurrent tumors, decisions as to what treatment to use are made on a case-by-case basis and depend on a number of factors.

Brain tumors are diagnosed using sophisticated computer technology that images the brain in various ways. Computerized tomography (CT) uses a computer and X-rays to make a picture of the brain. Brain tumors can directly destroy brain cells.

They may also indirectly damage cells by pushing on other parts of the brain. Brain tumors are now the second fastest growing cause of cancer death among those over the age of 65. Unlike lung cancer and melanoma, which are the first and third on that list, there are no known lifestyle or behavioral changes that will reduce the risk of developing a brain tumor.

Brain tumors may be classified as gliomas or non-gliomas. The most common gliomas are astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas (mixtures of oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma elements), and ependymomas.

Malignant (cancerous) tumors are typically rapidly growing and aggressive. Benign tumors are typically slow- growing and less aggressive. Malignant tumors grow the way a plant does, with "roots" invading various tissues. Or, they can shed cells that travel to distant parts of the brain.

Patients benefit from that knowledge and from specialized resources such as a dedicated neurological intensive care unit and the latest imaging technologies. Patients with brain stem gliomas typically are treated with radiation therapy alone, although both surgery and chemotherapy have been used, with little success.

Long-term survival rates are low for children with these tumors. Patients receive aggressive treatment in order to delay this regrowth as long as possible. Regrowth does not necessarily imply loss of control of the tumor, but it does mean that a new series of treatments should be considered because the tumor is becoming more aggressive.

By: Alisha Dhamani

7 Nutritional Tips To Increase Brain Power

2009-12-30T08:15:00.002+07:00

Mentioned below is a seven step plan to enable you control your diet under control and for consuming food as a medicine for the brain.

1.Increase levels of Water Intake - As your brain comprises around 80 % water the first and foremost rule of brain nutrition is to have adequate water for keeping your brain hydrated. Even very slight dehydration can increase the level of stress hormones that can cause damage to your brain. At least 84 ounces of water is required to be drunk in a day. It is good to have liquids devoid of sugar, artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol or caffeine.

2.Restriction of Calorie - Scientific research has proved that a calorie restricted diet is useful for the brain and longevity of life. Eating in excess reduces your life span. Restricting your calorie intake controls weight, reduces chances of cardio-vascular diseases, risks of cancer, and strokes caused due to obesity - that is a major risk factor for all these illnesses.

3.Good Fats, Fish, Fish Oil, & Bad Fats - A large portion of the grey matter of the brain is made up of DHA, a form of omega-3-fatty acids that is found in fish. Cell membranes are formed from the fat present in the brain and determine some of the vital functions of the brain. Neurons also containomega-3 fatty acids. The retina of the eye also contains high quantities of DHA. According to Research and study conducted in the recent years diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may enhance positive mood and a healthy emotional balance in the years to come. .

4.Dietary Antioxidants in increased quantities - Scientific research has substantiated that a considerable amount of dietary antioxidants intake that comes from fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of a cognitive impairment significantly. Study and research disclosed that free radical formation played a vital role in brain deterioration with age. When oxygen is converted into energy by a cell freed radicals are formed. Produced in normal amounts they rid the body of harmful toxins, keeping it healthy and strong. On the contrary if produced in excess, they damage the body cells and tissue. Vitamin C, E and beta carotene restrict production of excess amount free radicals in the body. The Department of Agriculture in the US have mentioned the following to be the best antioxidants: Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Spinach, Plums, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Beets, Oranges, Avocados, Red bell peppers, Red grapes, Cherries and Kiwis.

5.Carbohydrates, Balance Protein & Good Fats: In view of obesity and the various issues related to weight the best thing is the Atkins Diet and its clones that get rid of many of the simple sugars we consume. High refined sugar diets enhance diabetes, cognitive impairment and tiredness. Yet, to imply that bacon is a health food and that oranges and carrots are as bad as cake seems silly. The main principle is that a balanced diet is essential, especially balanced with proteins, carbohydrates and good fats. Proteins help in balancing blood sugar levels. During every snack or meal or, try to balance the intake of protein, fat and high fiber carbohydrates.

6.For you to follow a "brain healthy" calorie restricted diet plan you need to have some great references and choices. The book Super Foods Rx by Steven Pratt and Kathy Matthews is good resource in this context. It enlists 14 priority food groups that keep one healthy with reasonable calorie intake. The American Cancer Society prescribes 5- 9 servings of vegetables and fruits in a day.

7. Plan Snacks - Snacks are helpful in balancing intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Some favorite low calorie snacks Vegetables and dried fruits are examples of some great low calorie snacks, not the dried fruits & vegetables found in supermarkets that are packed with preservatives. When you much on veggies or dried fruit balance it out with some intake of protein and little fat.

By: Alex Fyfe

How Drugs And Smoking Cigarettes Damage The Body

2009-12-30T08:11:00.001+07:00

Some drugs can be very bad for your body and your mind. You need to be smart and not do this it can affect you so bad, which will cause damage to your body. There are so many drugs out there and they are all dangerous and yet people do them knowing what they can do to them. It can damage the inside and the outside of the body by causing it become weak, sick, or hospitalized. They can damage your nervous system, your, skin, organs, and more. Cigarettes are not considered a drug by most people, but they are highly addictive and are also one of the biggest killers.

Drugs can kill off brain cells or the nerves in your body which can cause may problems that will affect you in time. It can damage your mouth by eating away at the gum, teeth, tongue, and throat. Methamphetamine is known to do all these things as well as cigarettes. It can damage the skin of the mouth and it can go all the way through and cause sores and cancer. Methamphetamine can cause red infected sores and causes a lot of pain. Cigarettes do not do this normally, but smoking does cause the skin to age prematurely.

Parents need to to teach their children to stay way from drugs that are not prescribed for them by their doctor, show them what can or will happen to them if they become addicted to one or many different drugs. Cigarettes need to be discussed as well because this is nothing they need to do either. Every year more and more adults and kids are doing drugs do because there friends are doing it, because it makes them feel better at the moment. The feel good usually does not last long. These drugs can kill you, sometimes over time or if a lot is in the system, it can kill you fast, your life gone.

Why would you want that? Many drugs are addictive whether they are bought on the streets or prescribed by a doctor. and they will take over your lives. The drugs affect every part of the body, it is a silent killer. You need to stay away from any kind of drug or drugs you are not supposed to be taking. You need to keep your body healthy and in good condition if you want it to last for a very long time. Just make sure that any drugs that go into your body are the ones that are supposed to help you heal some ailment and not not just to make you feel good and get high.

By: Aydan Corkern

5 Easy Ways To Maintain Your Brain

2009-12-30T08:08:00.001+07:00

Alzheimer's has been linked to tiny strokes or less blood flow to the brain caused by narrowing arteries. Obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels cause structural changes in the brain - so it is important to improve your vascular health and maintain your brain at the same time. Here are some suggestions for you to consider:

1. OMEGA 3's (fish oil) - these are essential fatty acids that are so good for you because they protect your heart and protect your brain against memory loss and cell damage. Try eating fish twice a week or opt for an fish oil supplement. Look for the word "enteric coated" on the label so you do not burp up a fishy taste throughout the day.

2. KEEP YOUR WEIGHT IN CHECK - it turns out that those who become obese in middle age are twice as likely to develop dementia in old age, not to mention high blood pressure and cholesterol. Do what you can to keep your weight down and know that small changes in weight loss can make all the difference in the world.

3. EAT YOUR GREENS - Have you eaten something GREEN today? Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are rich in folate and antioxidant vitamins like Vitamin C that help protect your brain and your heart. Make a point of eating leafy greens at lunch and dinner everyday.

4. B-COMPLEX VITAMINS - Artherosclerosis can be caused by high levels of homocysteine - an amino acid found in the blood which is linked to Alzheimer's disease. B-vitamins including FOLATE actually help to decrease these levels and can be found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy greens, and vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce, pinto beans, navy and kidney beans and whole grains. Another option is to take a good quality B-complex supplement daily.

5. MAKE YOUR BODY MOVE - exercising and getting your blood pumping everyday is KEY to weight loss- Take an aerobic class, walk, go on the treadmill and do whatever you can to find an exercise you enjoy doing and can look forward to. This will help increase circulation throughout the body including the brain.
All of these suggestions will help maintain your brain as well as your heart.

If you are doing all of the above, I salute you for doing what you can to maintain good health and a good head on your shoulders. If you are someone that is not doing any of the above suggestions, then begin with one tip at a time. Be good to yourself and your brain!

By: Sherry Granader

Fish Oil: Use It Or Lose It

2009-12-30T07:58:00.001+07:00

Before you consider taking fish oil you have to understand omega-3 and it's role in your health.

Omega-3 fatty acids are the beneficial fatty acids. They are essential to your health but your body doesn't produce them. So you have to help supply your body with these good fatty acids.

The way to obtain these acids is through eating fish, such as halibut, tuna, herring, sardines, and salmon, krill which is an organic product, nut oils, and certain plants. You can also get omega-3 fatty acids in quality dietary supplements.

Fish oil is taken from the tissues of fish. It contains certain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA, which is Eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA, which is Docosahexaenoic acid. The fish get these acids from what they eat like micro algae.

Krill oil is oil that is taken from krill which is a shrimp like invertebrate animal. They are found in the Antarctic waters and the Pacific Ocean along the coast of Japan and Canada. Krill oil contains more antioxidants than fish oil plus it has a longer shelf life.

Clinical studies of fish oil have shown that it can help high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, weight loss, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders have been shown to improve by taking fish oil.

Let me tell you my experiences with krill oil and why I can't live without it. I have a mild case of cerebral palsy, which means I have a slight case of brain damage. In the last several years I've had eight petit mal seizures that have resulted in me going to the hospital to recover.

I had trouble concentrating all my life. To write anything like this would take a lot of effort.

I am in my late 50's and my mind isn't what it used to be, as good as it was. I thought I was going through early onset Alzheimer's because I was having a real hard time thinking, even my talking was slow and I had to think longer of what I wanted to say.

My husband was taking fish oil so I thought I'd take that. It left me with a strong aftertaste. So I couldn't take that. Then my husband started taking krill oil and he said I should take those. At first I was reluctant but then I thought I'd better try it because my condition was getting worse. Very soon after taking them I noticed my mind was loosening up. Words and thoughts are coming to me easier and freer.

I've had depression all my life and now I'm seeing a brightness to my life that I've never seen before. I love it! I'm even making jokes more, I talk more and am really starting to see a change in my personality. I can't believe it! I know it's the krill oil because I've changed nothing else in my life.

I would have had the hardest time writing this article in the past but now the words are flowing out of me. I feel great and am so glad and relieved to know I am not losing my mind. Thank you krill oil!

So if you're having trouble concentrating I'd try some fish oil. I can't say it will work wonders for you, like it did for me, but it's well worth a try.

By: Lambert Klein

Poor Children Have Brain Activity Similar To That Of Stroke Victims

2009-12-25T09:24:00.001+07:00

Researchers from the University of California (UC), Berkeley, recently conducted a study on comparing the brains of low-income children to that of high-income children. The results of the study found that the socioeconomic status of children factored as a major difference between the brain activity of the nine and 10 year olds that were studied.

According to Cognitive Neuroscience, where the study will be published, and Science Daily, "kids from lower socioeconomic levels show brain physiology patterns similar to someone who actually had damage in the frontal lobe as an adult."

The research showed that the lower income children had brain activity similar to that of a stroke victims, according to results from an electroencephalograph (EEG) machine, which is an electrode-filled cap that is also used to measure epilepsy or seizures, brain tumors and sleep disorders, according to news reports.

The study also reported that the differences may lie within the "stressful environments and cognitive impoverishment" that surrounds the child. However, the results of the study have set off new research into how to decrease the gap of brain function among the two groups of children.

Stroke Diagnosis and Side Effects

The research conducted by UC Berkeley scientists determined that the low-income children's brains were similar to that of a brain-damaged stroke victim. A stroke's side effects and severity often depend on type type of stroke as well as "the area of brain affected and the extent of a brain injury," according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Stroke, however, does cause affects that are common among a brain injured individual including the following:

* eyesight and other sensory disorders such as touch or awareness of

* body positioning, according to the AHA

* motor activity of arms, legs

* ability to communicate and understand speech

* behavioral and thought patterns

* memory and emotions

* cause paralysis or limb weakness, often common on one side of the body

Overcome TBI, Stroke-Induced Brain Injury

Because of the severity of TBI side effects, which range from behavioral and mood disorders to loss of memory and hearing difficulties, it remains imperative for a patient to locate an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney that can provide a free legal consultation as to the development of a brain injury lawsuit.

Such a lawsuit may offer a return of monetary compensation that could pay for life-saving brain injury treatments as well as provide a comfortable net of compensation to fall back on in case insurance doesn't cover the entirety of brain injury treatments.

By: Katie Kelley

The Top 11 Questions You Should Ask When Finding Treatment For Your Brain Injury

2009-12-25T09:19:00.002+07:00

Our last article detailed some of the members of the traumatic brain injury treatment team. This article provides you with some of the most important questions and concerns you should be raising with any treatment facility you are considering.

Treatment of TBI varies from person to person. Educating the TBI patient and his/her family about the symptoms that may be experienced, and the treatment available, as a result of such an injury is critical. Referral to specialists in neurology, neuropsychology, or rehabilitation may be appropriate.

Anyone with signs of TBI should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Because little can be done to reverse the initial brain damage caused by trauma, medical personnel try to stabilize an individual with TBI and focus on preventing further injury. Primary concerns include insuring proper oxygen supply to the brain and body, maintaining adequate blood flow, and controlling blood pressure. Imaging tests help in determining the diagnosis and prognosis of a TBI patient. Patients may receive skull and neck X-rays to check for bone fractures or spinal instability.

Many TBI patients will undergo an imaging test known as a computed tomography (CT) scan. is a noninvasive, painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. A CT uses special x-ray equipment to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body and a computer to join them together in cross-sectional views of the area being studied [A CT is sometimes compared to looking into a loaf of bread by cutting the loaf into thin slices. When the image slices are reassembled by computer software, the result is a very detailed multidimensional view of the body's interior.]. CT scans of internal organs, bone, soft tissue and blood vessels provide greater clarity than conventional x-ray exams. CT scans of the body enable a physician to more easily diagnose brain injuries but also problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.

Moderately to severely injured patients receive rehabilitation that involves individually tailored treatment programs in the areas of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, physiatry (physical medicine), psychology/ psychiatry, and social support. Looking at the list of questions below should help you get started in deciding which medical facility is most appropriate for TBI treatment. Please note that this list is not meant to be exhaustive but is meant to help you get started on your way towards finding the best treatment for you or a loved one with TBI.

Here are the questions I believe are important for you to ask any treatment facility and these can be easily tailored for any medical provider:

1. Are programs custom-tailored to meet your needs or is there a cookie-cutter approach that applies to everyone with a brain injury? Will evaluators spend time with you and your family/support group to truly understand your needs, and rehab goals? Will progress reports be individualized, with objective quantifiable goals in all disciplines?

2. Is the program accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF) and/or the Joint commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)?

3. What is your program's greatest strength and greatest weakness?

4. Will the program accept your health, auto or private pay? What is the daily cost of the program and what does this include (room & board, medications, physician services, therapy, transportation, etc.)? Are there billed extras (i.e., special diet, telephone, internet laundry, bed hold fees)?

5. How many of your patients realize their rehab goals? What is the average outcome?

6. What is the average length of treatment? Will you put in writing how long you anticipate my treatment will be?

7. What type of follow up programs and services do you offer? Are family members and friends involved? What kind of family training, support groups and therapy is offered? Is there a charge for participation?

8. What is your staff to patient ratio? Is the majority of therapy conducted on a one-to-one basis?

9. Does your Rehab Team include licensed/certified: Neuropsychologists; Clinical Psychologists; Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors; Registered/Licensed Vocational staff; Practical Nurses; Recreational Therapists; Physical Therapists; Occupational Therapists; Speech/Language Pathologists; Educational Therapists; Social Services staff; case management staff? [Note: the licensures/certifications should be available for your review.]

10. Do you have an out-patient program? Do you provide follow up services in the home, the school and the job?

11. Upon discharge, will I receive a written plan that addresses issues, such as housing, job coach, vocational rehab and counseling, recreational, social services, nursing home, parent's home?

NOTE: These are just some of the important questions that you, or a family member, should be asking of any facility you are considering for treatment of TBI. We do not presume to tell you where to get treatment but we want to give you the power to ask the right questions, raise the right issues, address the right concerns before engaging in any treatment.

By: David Bressman

Brain Vitamins: How Do They Prevent Cognitive Decline

2009-12-25T09:15:00.001+07:00

The natural foods we ingest contain a lot of ingredients that keep the brain healthy and our memories sharp and lucid. Many of the vitamins we consume have a protective and maintenance function in the brain.

Some of these functions include:

Antioxidant effect:

Brain cells are constantly producing free radicals as a byproduct of metabolic processes. Antioxidants like Vitamin E, C, and glutathione get rid of these free radicals before they end up causing too much damage to the brain. Vitamin E has been shown to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease, when administered in doses of 2000 UI daily for two years. It can be consumed through food sources and other supplements. Vitamins C and E may also prevent dementia by helping the brain recover after a stroke.

Increasing glutathione levels intravenously has been shown to help patients of Parkinsonism improve dramatically. Glutathione levels can also be increased by consuming antioxidants such as N-acetyl-cysteine to boost antioxidant levels in the blood.

Increasing brain circulation:

It has been found that low levels of homocysteine can contribute to development of heart diseases and dementia. Vitamins such as folate can control this drop in homocysteine levels, preventing memory loss relating to dementia.

Vitamin E has also been shown to help prevent atherosclerosis or the buildup of deposits on vessels that supply blood to the brain cells. This can cause poor circulation and blood clots, contributing to strokes and memory loss. Vitamin B6 can also prevent heart disease and strokes, and Vitamin B12 can increase the supply of oxygen to the cells.

Nerve cell development:

The importance of folate on the development of nerve cells has been proved by overwhelming evidence that folate deficiency can damage neural tube development in the fetus. Today all pregnant women are required to take pregnancy vitamins that contain folic acid to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida and cleft palate caused by folate deficiency.

The nerve cells are encased in a myelin sheath, a fatty covering that protects and insulates nerve fibers and allows them to function optimally. Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 fats, required for proper development and maintenance of this myelin sheath as well as the cell membranes that preserve the integrity of nerve cells.

Improving mood and function:

B complex vitamins play an important role in the manufacture and release of neurotransmitters that transmit nerve impulses. Neurotransmitters help the brain regulate various body functions such as mood, hunger, and sleep B complex vitamins also protect the myelin sheath from damage.

Low levels of B 12 can cause damage to the sheath and prevent the nerves from functioning normally. Vitamin B6 regulates the GABA and serotonin neurotransmitters and has also been found to alleviate depression, anxiety and stress disorders.

Modern diets provide insufficient amounts of these essential nutritional factors, compromising the health of our brain cells and making it difficult for them to recover from strokes and damage. The result is that diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stress and mood disorders, anxiety and dementia become inevitable as we age.

But although growing older is inevitable, feeling older is not. Taking a multi-vitamin or a well-formulated supplement that compensates for deficiencies in our diets can help to protect and preserve brain function well into your senior years, keeping your memory sharp and promoting clarity in your thought processes.

By: Andrew Stratton

Memory Supplements That Boost Memory And Brain Function

2009-12-25T09:12:00.001+07:00

Have you or anyone around you ever said you were having a "senior moment?" In defense of seniors, you can have one of these moments at any age. What it refers to are those moments when you can't remember what you came into a room for or you can't find your car keys for the billionth time this week. These moments are a common occurrence, but the older you get, the more you worry if something more is going on.

Alzheimer's and dementia are conditions in which memory and mental cognition are greatly compromised. Mental deterioration can occur very quickly. So, what can you do right now to help with the minor forgetful annoyances and possibly improve your odds of avoiding a more serious condition? There are memory supplements that have shown to improve, to varying degrees, brain function and memory processes.

Here are some of the more common memory supplement ingredients and how they work:

* Ginkgo Biloba-The recommended daily dose is 240mg for the full memory boosting benefits of this memory supplement. This herb improves blood circulation which means that more oxygen is getting to the brain. It also acts as a natural anti-oxidant by helping fight the damaging effects of free radicals on cells.

* Ginseng-This natural herbal memory supplement is believed to reduce fatigue and is usually taken in conjunction with ginkgo. If you are less fatigued, your mental acuity is better and your concentration level is higher.

* Selenium-This mineral has been found to boost energy and elevate mood. If you are feeling active and happy, you will think more clearly.

* Folic Acid-A deficiency of this vitamin increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

* Omega-3s-The benefit of omega-3s to brain function is that it is believed to affect the neurons that transmit information by building new lines of communication in the neurons.

* Antioxidants-These include vitamins like E and C. Proteins and natural plant extracts also contain antioxidant power. These hard-working ingredients fight off the free radicals that threaten the cells and tissue of the body. Free radicals come from the environment, pollution and stress. They rid the brain of oxidized cells and help repair damage.

* Vitamin E-Taking the recommended dose of vitamin E may help slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease. So, if there is a family history of this condition, you should seek your doctor's advice for the same. Vitamin E is believed to help in circulation.

There isn't a lot of research regarding these natural memory supplements so be sure to only take the recommended dose. Also, before adding any type of medication-natural, prescription or over the counter- always check with your physician or pharmacist first.

Make them aware of other medications you are taking so they can determine if there is a risk of drug interactions. Just because these memory supplements are natural doesn't mean they can cause a bad reaction with something else you are taking. Give your brain a daily workout with the cross-word or Sudoku to stimulate it and take memory supplements to get the blood flowing.

By: Andrew Stratton

Brain Chemistry And Trust Unlocked

2009-12-25T09:04:00.001+07:00

Most people would assume that Oxytocin in a bottle, a marketing fantasy, would be lumped in with the fountain of youth and the claims that fad diets make about melting away untold pounds with no real effort. Assume what you like, but Swiss and American scientists working together in Zurich have demonstrated with recent experiments that this could be a reality. What caused such wild reactions? A liquid trust spray of sorts containing oxytocin, a hormone naturally found in the human body.

A few squirts of this magic trust potion and human subjects were overwhelmingly more trusting and willing to invest more money than subjects given a placebo. This is all without any promise of return on the investment.

The researchers were very quick to acknowledge that their research could be easily abused by con artists, criminals, and politicians who might use liquid trust sprays to sway votes by misting large crowds with the hormone.

"Of course, this finding could be misused," said Ernst Fehr of the University of Zurich, who was the senior researcher in this oxytocin study, which appeared in an issue of the journal Nature. "I don't think we currently have such abuses. However, in the future it could happen."

Could oxytocin also be a therapy for social phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other psychological problems? Some scientists say that this new research brings about questions concerning oxytocin and the potential it has in terms of therapy for conditions ranging from autism to social phobias where trust receptors are diminished or altered. Perhaps the hormone and the effects it causes could be used to treat more rare diseases like Williams Syndrome or Asbergers where children are sometimes willing to approach strangers and other dangerous situations with no inhibition or fear.

"Might their high level of trust be due to excessive oxytocin release?" asks University of Iowa neurologist Antonio Damasio. Damasio researched the finding published in Nature and said, "Little is known about the neurobiology of trust, although the phenomenon is beginning to attract attention."

Oxytocin is a hormone in your brain. Tissues in the brain secrete the hormone for your hypothalamus to synthesize. This little part of the brain is extremely important. It controls engrained reactions like hunger and thirst as well as body temerature and your fight or flight response. The hypothalamus is associated with some of the most basic of instincts and emotions as well, including fear and anger.

Before this research, oxytocin was not well researched and considered nothing more than a simple reproductive hormone found present in both sexes. In mammals including humans, this chemical hormone stimulates contractions in labor and sends the message to the female body to begin production of milk. Oxytocin is released in situation where the body is under social stress as well and has calming effects. These are all arguments for the validity of liquid trust.

By: Aydan Corkern

Brain Vitamins Can Improve Your Cognitive Function

2009-12-25T09:00:00.002+07:00

There are vitamins that many people take to improve the function of the brain. Before taking any of these or supplements, make sure that you consult a doctor to minimize risks and complications.

Many people try to use nutrients and supplements to repair tissue that has been damaged. Before taking any minerals, make sure that you consult a doctor because many can be harmful, especially to children. He or she will examine you thoroughly and even can advise you on some nutrients you can take to achieve your desired results.

If you notice some mental fatigue or want to increase cognitive function, your first step should be to try and obtain vitamins and supplements through food. For example, many individuals choose to eat blueberries because they are an antioxidant and are extremely health. There are other foods that help with improving mental functioning such as raisins, berries, apples, spinach and cherries.

These can dramatically reduce memory loss and restore motor balance. Too much simple carbohydrates can be detrimental to the body because they produce a rise in blood sugar so you should try and eat foods high in complex carbohydrates such as peanuts, beans and yogurt. Normally natural enhancers and vitamins are better than unnatural ones.

There are several foods to avoid because they are not good for your mind. For example, you will want to avoid certain fats, which can inflame your brain tissue and can produce blood damage. They can also decrease blood circulation. Certain oils are not good for the mind also and should be avoided. Sugars should be avoided which can affect the amount of glucose in the blood within the brain. This can lead to damage to the cells.

You may want to try high quality minerals and additives first however many times the lower priced ones work just as well. You will want to give the supplements adequate time to work in your body. You may want to take some multivitamins to insure your mind is performing at an optimal level and invest in antioxidant vitamins to help clean out the brain.

Omega-3 has been known to help mental functioning and mood which can effect IQ and brain development. Fish can be a great way to get Omega-3. Selenium can be found in grains and meats along with seafood and can be a great way of changing the mood of the individual. Vitamin E can also help with blood circulation which can improve functioning.

Folic acid has been known to address Alzheimer's disease as well as age related memory loss. The B ones can improve memory and can help minimize stress and again assist the mind in development. There are a variety of items on the market so make sure you research their effects and also acknowledge the risks and side effects.

There are many minerals that you can take to help with intellect and mental functioning. As long as you consult a doctor, there are safe supplements that you can take that will lead to lasting results.

By: Andrew Stratton

Strengthen Your Brain With Powerful Brain Fitness Regimens

2009-12-25T08:58:00.001+07:00

Dementia is a set of symptoms resulting from damage or death of certain nerve cells in the brain. The person affected by this dreaded disease exhibits symptoms such as trouble with memory, trouble finding the right words and problem with their day to day activities.

Dementia patients exhibit symptoms of confusion and tend to get lost even in familiar places. They misplace objects and are usually depressed and irritable. Dementia can result in pronounced personality changes. An otherwise cautious person can display irresponsibility in decision making. They may neglect important responsibilities and express false beliefs.

Dementia, in its advanced stage, may require patients to go in for professional help. Dementia continues to confound doctors, scientists and researchers with an effective treatment method. However, there are potent ways and means of strengthening the nerve cells in your brain with the help of various brain fitness exercises.

Brain fitness has gained in prominence with more and more opting for it. Brain fitness exercises enhances study skills, makes a person efficient in problem solving, helps with time management skills, fine tunes other areas such as speed reading and critical thinking.
A good brain fitness program can help improving cognitive skills, enhance abstract reasoning and also help with speedy processing of information by the brain. This result oriented and potent program is designed by experts and is customized to target specific areas of the brain.

Latest innovative and powerful techniques are incorporated in this program including therapeutic intervention. Effective tasks such as visualization, mental exercises and computerized drills are used with precision to work on those aspects of the brain that will make it sharp and strong.

We often take care to exercise and keep our body in shape to stay healthy and fit for as long as possible. However we fail to realize that brain too needs fitness and exercise just like our bodies to stay in optimum shape for maximum number of years.

The importance of a brain gym is widely recognized by the medical fraternity today. As the age old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. It is not quite possible as of now to cure dreaded mental diseases such as dementia. It is definitely however possible to slow the onset of dementia by exercising your brain and keeping it fit.

Dementia can be debilitating and emotionally traumatic. Strengthen your brain and prevent any kind of nerve damage leading to this most dreaded disease. Potent and powerful brain fitness programs run by brain fitness experts can be taken advantage of by people of any age group. It is especially beneficial for baby boomers as it works on their reading and cognitive skills to enhance their daily activities. There is a tremendous improvement in their levels of concentration which spurs them to achieve great success.

Brain fitness programs are here to protect you from a variety of mental illnesses and to enhance your productivity and skill levels. It is in your hands to reach out and take advantage of them.

By: Jane Stewart

Optimize Your Mental Health With A Good Brain Fitness Program

2009-12-25T08:56:00.001+07:00

Today we find people becoming physically more fit and healthy and mentally weak and unsteady. This is mainly due to the fact that more emphasis is given to physical fitness and gym routines and practically nothing for mental fitness.

Optimizing mental performance through brain fitness exercises is possible and can be seen with various result oriented programs.

Dementia and other horrible mental illnesses can be slowed if people would give equal importance to mental fitness. Dementia is a disease that arises purely from damaged nerve cells in the brain. This damage is a result of overload of stress and anxiety over a period of time spurred by the ever increasing pace of life activities.

Today we find almost everyone running frantically trying to make ends meet. By the time people reach the age of say 45 to 50, their nerve cells are so weak from exhaustion and fatigue that they succumb to mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and Alzheimer's.

Dementia is an illness that eludes researchers, scientists and medical fraternity. The cause as well as treatment method for this mental disease remains unknown.

Dementia's progression can be slowed by diligently following a good and effective brain fitness regime. Brain Fitness Programs can help strengthen the nerve cells and improve your cognitive and concentration power to a great extent.

Brain fitness helps improve your study skills and also strengthens areas such as critical thinking and speed reading. These programs are therefore ideal for people of any age group.

For those running a business or working in a company, brain fitness programs enhances their problem solving capacity and helps improve time management skills. Work efficiency can be improved to a great extent opening up huge opportunities to succeed.

In fact, programs such as Optiminds fine tune your abstract reasoning power and also helps your brain process information in half the time. The program is designed with care by experts in the field and is absolutely result oriented. They are customized to work on specific areas of your brain and enhance overall effectiveness in functioning.

Good brain fitness programs incorporate therapeutic intervention using latest powerful and innovative techniques. You will be taught some potent visualization techniques, computerized drills and mental exercises.

Just as you give a lot of attention to your physical fitness and diet, it is vital to give the same amount of attention to the health of your brain too. Strengthen your brain's cognitive power and enhance your concentration and productivity. You should enlist experts to guide you through various exercise regimes and processes to optimize your work efficiency as well as your brain health.

Brain gyms are being acknowledged and their importance is being recognized widely by the medical fraternity too. Awfully traumatic diseases such as dementia can be kept at bay with just a little extra effort with brain exercises. Start your brain fitness along with your physical fitness right away and enjoy optimum physical and mental health.

By: Jane Stewart

Lose Your Brain, Lose Your Life

2009-12-25T08:52:00.001+07:00

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a difficult medical condition to deal with. This is caused by head traumas or oxygen deprivation. Dizziness, headaches and problems with your vision and hearing are three possible signs that you may have suffered a brain injury.

develops severe headache or stiff neck, unusual drowsiness or behaves abnormally. You may have sustained a head injury.

TBI can occur when any outside force impacts the head with enough force to cause the brain to move within the skull, or if the force fractures breaks the skull and causes direct trauma to the brain. Any rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head can cause the brain to move back and forth, producing bruising, swelling, axonal shearing and closed injury. The stress from rapid movement of the head can pull apart nerve fibers in the brain and actually cause physical damage to brain tissue, according to an online California medical journal.

Cheryl Hogarth had major brain surgery because of a Ping-Pong sized ball tumor. She, at 37, was informed she only had six months to live. Her malignant tumor was inoperable. She went underwent Gamma Knife radiation.

It is a no-knife surgery that blasts its target with hundreds of high-intensity radiation beams in a single session. There was none of the cutting, bleeding, general anesthesia, ear-to-ear scar or long recovery associated with traditional craniotomy, explained in a New York Times article.

After two years, shes a survivor. She still goes to the hospital for chemotherapy to supplement the Gamma Knife treatment. Luckily, the tumor has not grown.

But not all cases are miraculous like hers. You only have one brain and when it is damage, it is in most cases irreversible. With obstetric negligence, it deals with the tragedy of mismanaged labor and delivery to newborn babies. Usually happens during caesarian operation of pregnant women.

There are undiagnosed head injuries, which can escalate to significant cerebral swelling with brain stem compression and secondary injury. These can result to neuronal, metabolic and other functional abilities.

Also it affects cognition, speech language communication, memory, attention and concentration, reasoning, abstract thinking, physical function, psycho-social behavior, and information processing.

Some get it from car accidents, falls, assault, premise liability and even while doing sports or your daily activities. Head Injury Claims is rather complicated. Lawyers are important to help guide you.

By: Remedios V. Lucio

Hemispherectomy: Epileptic Attacks And Losing One Hemisphere Of Your Brain

2009-12-25T08:50:00.001+07:00

Hemispherectomy is a surgical treatment for epilepsy that removes one of the two cerebral hemispheres of the brain. Removing or disconnecting the focus from the rest of the brain can reduce seizure frequency and intensity.

There are epileptic people with no single focus. If there are multiple focal points within one hemisphere, or if the focus is undefined but restricted to one hemisphere, hemispherectomy may be indicated for treatment, explained Science Daily.

A surgeon can remove the entire hemisphere of the brain, since multiple seizures damage it anyway and the other side has already assumed the function of the damaged part.

However, children who undergo hemispherectomy will have more significant impairments because of epilepsy. It will either result to (1) partial or complete paralysis or (2) partial or complete loss of sensation on the side of the body opposite to the affecting the brain.

The patients that can go through this surgery are those who cant be treated by any medications. There are different kinds of diseases that trigger epilepsy such as:

Neonatal brain injury

Rasmussen disease

Hemimegalencephaly

Sturge-Weber syndrome

Risky surgery

The patient may have hemorrhage during surgery or post-surgery. If its blood clotting, it can be managed with anticoagulant drugs. There are other risks such as:

Aseptic meningitis- an inflammation of the brain's covering without infection

Hydrocephalus- increased fluid pressure within the remaining brain

Death from surgery

Lose of sensation or muscle control in the extremities on the side opposite the removed hemisphere

In Stamford, Justin Nemchek, a 13-year-old patient who underwent a 13-hour hemispherectomy brain surgery, was successful. Dr. Mark Souweidane, director of pediatric neurosurgery and vice chair of neurological surgery at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center explained that Nemcheks arteriovenous malformation was removed since it hasnt been functioning ever since he had a stroke in 2003.

The boy has an incision that begins at the top of his right ear and splits, one side curving down to the base of his neck and the other to the top of his dark buzz cut.

Legal Issues

Brain surgery is very complicated and is considered as high risk by doctors. Those victims who suffer brain injury because of accidents, the negligent party is to blame. If this is the case, having a traumatic brain injury lawyer is advisable since they know more about such casesspecifically the latest developments in this area of law. They will advise their clients and guide them on the legal process.

By: Remedios V. Lucio

Memory Training Game: Keeping Your Brain Healthy

2009-12-25T08:13:00.001+07:00

Do your ever take some time out and reflect upon what your mind is capable of achieving? Well, meditation can help you to discover the coded messages that lie embedded in your brain. The human brain is a powerhouse where immense energy resides. The brain training game can help you to harness this immense pool of intelligence. These games are designed to condition your brain to perform beyond limits.

It is needless to say that our brain has an influence in all the activities that we do. However one of the most significant functions of our brain is that concerned with memory. Memory is a special gift which we use almost in every aspect of our life. A sharp memory is a distinguishing feature which differentiates the successful people. It helps people to perform various activities with improved efficiency and precision.

The area of the human brain which is concerned with performing the function of memory is hippocampus. Located just below the temple this area of the brain helps in storing and processing new information for future storage and retrieval. It is not at all surprising thus that the hippocampus is one of the first area to get damaged during Alzheimer disease. Another situation attributed to the damage of hippocampii is Amnesia which is the loss of memory.

Brain training games can prove to be very helpful for the purpose of improving the functioning of the brain. These games also keep Alzheimer and other situations at bay. The brain training game has a positive impact on our memory at various levels. The memory is generally compromised of face name memory, working memory and spatial memory. The working memory is concerned with day to day activities like remembering phone numbers. The face name memories, on the other hand, helps in associating pictures with names. The spatial memory is the special part of memory which helps you to perform within a particular environment.

Brain training software and brain games can help you to enhance the capacity of your memory. With games like 'Speed dating' and 'Card Wise' the online games can surely prove very helpful in enhancing your memories. The online games also provide you with an option to play various other exciting games online.

Mind360 offers online brain training game. The website mind360.com provides complete information about the company.

By: Clifton Flack

Traumatic Brain Injury - What Are The Treatment Options

2009-12-25T07:38:00.002+07:00

Whether it is you that has received a traumatic brain injury, or someone in your family, the results can be the same - lives devastated by the head injury, and not just physically or emotionally either.

Traumatic brain injury affects the wallet too, and eats up time like a starved teenage boy. Here we shall look at some of the symptoms, as well as possible treatments, and outcomes too.

Any damage to the head, accidental or otherwise, can cause traumatic brain injury. The sudden stopping of a car can shake the brain inside the skull causing damage. Falling while skate boarding and then hitting the head on a curb or the ground can cause the damage too, or falling from a bike, or skiing, or..., the list goes on. To reduce the chances of head injury, it is essential that we protect our heads as much as possible, which means that while snow boarding, wear a helmet, ditto biking, skiing, and skate boarding. It may look a little weird, but it is better to look weird through wearing a helmet, than to look weird because of the damage it has done to your brain!

Head injuries can cause various injuries with differing symptoms. Depending on the area of the brain which is damaged, there can be headaches, speaking difficulties like slurred speech, visual disturbances, problems with walking, problems thinking and following through with something, vertigo, dizziness, weakness of the muscles, perhaps just on one side of the body, seizures, and the list goes on.

This means that the treatments are different too depending on the symptoms. This in turn can mean many different appointments to many different specialists. If this is necessary, make sure that all the specialists know the treatment others have suggested, and that they all get the test results from all tests.

As a result of the brain injury, sometimes the patient has to be taught the very basics that they learned years before. Therapy is used to reteach for example how to walk, something which is both expensive and time consuming. Or it may be that occupational therapy is needed to retrain the patient for a new career, or even their old one.

The time needed to take the patient to these therapy sessions if they are now living at home can take up a great deal, and cut into work time significantly. This often means a double hit on the pocketbook. Wages are often reduced as the helper isn't able to work as many hours, plus the therapy costs money that you haven't earned, which hits the wallet again.

Now, the time used on patient therapy and other appointments, can mean reduced time spent on your own life, and this can lead to resentment and bitterness, frustration and in many cases debt because of the medical costs involved. This in turn can lead to feelings of guilt, for perhaps wishing the patient wasn't around any more. It is a terrible situation to find yourself in, and you should realize just how much energy something like this takes from you. It is very natural to find yourself resenting the intrusion into your time, which is perhaps stopping you from having your own life, or at least the life you used to have. It is a terrible thing to happen, and it takes a very understanding and patient person to deal with it.

One of the ways you must help the patient who is recovering from the traumatic brain injury, is to never give up hope or encouragement. Without hope the life for you and the injured can be very depressing, and yet most of us know that the body can and does heal itself in time for some people. Even doctors can be wrong, and often are when it comes to the permanence of injuries. The body sometimes recovers even though not expected to do so. Severe depression is possible for the tbi patient and also the care givers, so try to keep the hope of recovery as an option that can be attained with work. Try to continue giving encouragement and hope, even though it can be difficult for you. The chance of recovering from traumatic brain injury, even if it is slim, is better than no hope at all. On the other hand, you don't want to have your expectations too high. Somehow you need to find a suitable level of optimism - difficult I know.

For all traumatic brain injuries, you need somehow to be optimistic, patient, loving, kind, supportive, and to give hope, a very tall order to ask. But really, what other choice do you have? Traumatic brain injury is a terrible thing to have to deal with, but there are plenty out there that have had to, and are stronger people and families as a result. Hopefully your family can be strong and supportive too.

By: Steve Jackson

Learn To Cope Up With Cerbal Palsy

2009-12-25T07:30:00.001+07:00

Cerbal palsy is a disease in which many parts of the body are affected. With cerbal palsy comes many chronic disorders that impair motor skills and normal bodily functions. The reason this disease occurs is due to defective development or damage to the motor part of the brain. You will find that people with cerbal palsy have trouble writing, using scissors or eating because their motor skills are very limited. Another part of cerbal palsy makes it difficult to maintain balance and sudden, involuntary movements are common. It also hinders ones ability to walk and/or run.

Unfortunately, people that have cerbal palsy also are affected by other disorders, like seizures or brain damage. Signs of cerbal palsy will usually start to show up in children before the age of three. Infants with this disease are very slow in their development and dont learn to smile, crawl, sit or walk at the expected ages.

To determine if a child has cerbal palsy, doctors will administer a series of tests on motor skills and reflexes. They will also look into medical history of the family and use other tests to ensure they are 100% correct in their diagnosis.

There isnt one common treatment that is known to work for all those that have been afflicted with cerbal palsy. Instead, speech, physical and behavioral therapy is used in different ways on different people. There are also braces that help balance people out and drugs to help control involuntary muscle movements.

There isnt a cure as of yet for cerbal palsy but scientists are working hard at developing one. Due to the extensive knowledge of this disease and the medical research, people with cerbal palsy can lead pretty normal lives. Learning to cope with this disease can be hard but its best to accept the things you cannot change and if you do this, you will be a stronger and wiser person for it.

By: James Hunt

15 Ways Microwave Ovens Can Destroy Your Health

2009-12-25T07:23:00.001+07:00

Foods that have been subjected to microwave radiation are dangerous to our health. Microwave ovens heat food with high-frequency microwaves that force water molecules to heat up by violently vibrating them. This causes a fracturing of the molecules, and a rearrangement of the chemical composition of the food.

Besides irradiating food, electromagnetic fields and invisible microwave emissions can bypass the built-in shielding in microwave ovens, and can leak through aging door seals, allowing them to travel to other rooms of the house.

The history of microwave ovens dates back to World War II, when the Nazis began research and development of these devices. They were searching for ways to overcome the logistical problems of producing edible food in a short time, and to be able to reduce the amount and bulk of cooking fuels that would be required to support their planned operations for the military invasion of Russia.

At the end of the war, the United States' War Department and the Soviet Union obtained the German microwave research and some of the devices. They took them home for further study.
Adding to the German research from the early forties, the Russians continued to research the biological effects of microwave ovens and microwave-cooked food. Their findings led them, in 1976, to issue an international warning concerning the biological and environmental dangers of using such ovens and similar electronic frequency devices.

German and Russian researchers found that cooking food with microwaves:
* Produces cancer causing agents.
* Destroys nutritive values.
* Reduces the food's vital energy field content by 60-90%.

Humans who had direct exposure to microwaves but had not eaten irradiated food experienced:

* Long term cumulative loss of vital energies.
* Destabilized metabolism.
* Cell damage.
* Degeneration of electrical nerve impulses.
* Nervous and lymphatic systems damage.
* Hormone destabilization.
* Brainwave disturbances.
* Psychological disorders.

Conclusions on the effects of eating irradiated food included:

* Long term permanent brain damage.
* Alteration or loss of hormone production.
* Permanent damage within the human body.
* Stomach and intestinal tumors.
* Increase of cancer cells in human blood.
* Immune system deficiencies.
* Loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

The use of microwave ovens is almost universal in restaurants and homes in North America. Considering the foregoing information, it is likely that serious damage at the human cellular level is being wrought throughout the western world.

Yet, as with many other aspects of our food, medicines, and environment, the cumulative effects of microwaves are gradual; when the onset of illness occurs, it is very hard to make the connection with the original cause.

For these reasons, in my opinion, the use of microwave ovens, and eating food and drinks that have been heated in them, is not advised.

Malingering Brain Damage And Mental Illness

2009-12-25T07:19:00.001+07:00

Malingering of brain injury or damage, and malingering of mental illness are common concerns that must be considered in all litigation involving mental health professionals. Malingering in a forensic mental health context is a word which usually refers to deception intended to fake or exaggerate symptoms of a genuine mental illness, brain injury, or brain damage. That is the basic meaning, but in actual practice it is more complicated than that. Malingering is actually an inference made about someone's motivation when there is an indication the information they are providing is not reliable or consistent with what is known about them and the condition.

The possibility of malingering must be considered in every forensic mental health evaluation because there is always the potential for a person to try and "beat the system" by attempting to exaggerate their symptoms, or present with symptoms of a condition that they do not actually suffer. The process of assessment of malingering has come a very long way since the time of professionals just going on their gut feelings and their clinical experience. In current forensic mental health practice there are a wide variety of techniques available to mental health professionals to assess the issues related to possible malingering.

The issue of possible malingering of mental illness or brain damage is present in both criminal and civil proceedings. In criminal proceedings it is most often seen in competency to proceed and mental status at the time of the offense issues. In civil proceedings the possibility of malingering brain damage is often seen in personal injury cases involving accidents and malpractice which may have resulted in brain damage. Malingering of other types of mental illness in civil proceedings are also common concerns in claims of post traumatic stress disorder and other conditions which may arise out of traumatic events or loss of independence.

The frequency of malingering found in the available literature indicates that it is neither prevalent nor particularly rare. There is considerable variation from one setting to another, but overall the frequency of malingering mental illness or brain injury in legal proceedings is probably between 15-18 % of cases. Most people involved in litigation do not exaggerate or fabricate their conditions, but the problem is common enough that it cannot be ignored.

Attorneys on both sides of any case involving mental health issues should be aware of the issues associated with malingering, and be certain that any mental health expert they use understands and considers such issues in the context of giving a professional opinion in legal proceedings. It almost goes without saying that mental health professionals, such as forensic psychologists and psychiatrists, should be familiar with the issues associated with possible malingering, and be prepared to answer questions about how they addressed the possibility of malingering.

By: Eric Mings Ph.D.

Dementia Or Alzheimer's - Which Is Correct

2009-12-24T13:20:00.002+07:00

We've been hearing about Alzheimer's disease for years, thanks to great awareness campaigns, but now the new word out there is dementia, and the two terms often seem to be seen hand in hand. Many people don't like the sound of the word dementia and those that have loved ones or family members who have received the dementia diagnosis prefer to pass it off as Alzheimer's. Is there really any difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, and if so, what is it?

Society's perception of dementia, however, is a negative one, and people tend to shy away from using the word. The disorder's word association and common image is one of an old person's illness, one that holds images of insanity and poverty or losing one's mind. Awareness of the true meaning of dementia is underway, but there is a long, long way to go before people can feel at ease around the term and accept it as a normal occurrence in a human's lifespan.

Are The Two Illnesses The Same Thing?

One thing is quite certain, though, dementia and Alzheimer's are not interchangeable words and they mean very different things for the person having a diagnosis of one or the other. Family members, when faced with a loved one's diagnosis of dementia, often purposely mislead friends and acquaintances by claiming Alzheimer's when the truth is something quite different.

Alzheimer's disease is caused by deterioration of neurons in the brain that produce chemical messengers and an accumulation of plaques of dead tissue. Dementia is brain damage caused by minute strokes, infection, tumors or progressive diseases. What's important to remember is that whereas Alzheimer's disease is an actual disease, dementia is a syndrome or a group of symptoms.

Differentiating the Disorders

Is it possible to recognize the differences between Alzheimer's disease and dementia? Yes, it is, though the task can be difficult for those who aren't sure what to look for. At face value, dementia and Alzheimer's disease both cause people to have trouble with memory or recognizing familiar objects, a drop in planning and organization skills and social functioning impairment. But as two distinct illnesses, there are some differences.

Alzheimer's disease sufferers display classical symptoms that are easily recognizable. Many people who have had to live with an Alzheimer's sufferer are able to point out the symptoms in others very easily, just by noticing a telltale quirk or action of that person. One of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is confusion, which causes the sufferer to use behaviors such as confabulation (making stories up when caught), reactions such as running away and trying to escape from their home or hospital, or not knowing familiar people such as loved ones or children. As the disease progresses, Alzheimer's patients 'forget' more and more, such as how to dress or wash, or how to eat; and eventually the sufferers are confined to their beds.

Dementia sufferers 'forget' as well, but in a more general fashion, such as forgetting where they left their keys, or putting them in the sugar bowl instead of on the hook. They may make judgment errors, such as choosing a bathing suit to wear outside when a sweater is more appropriate. They may forget names, but recognition for people in general is better. The behaviors and reactions of a dementia sufferer may make other people wonder, but there is no typical pattern of behavior to dementia in general, as it doesn't have one specific cause - different brain damage causes different behaviors.

Dementia does not necessarily follow the same rate of decline in cognitive ability as Alzheimer's disease. Whereas Alzheimer's disease ultimately results in death within a few years, people diagnosed with dementia can live a very long time at a generally stable level of forgetfulness. Medication can ease symptoms of both diseases and make symptoms easier to cope with for both sufferers and caregivers, but, unfortunately, neither disorder can be cured.

By: Andi Michaels

Seat Belt Use And Traumatic Brain Injury

2009-12-24T13:17:00.001+07:00

Traumatic brain injuries cannot be cured in any traditional sense, that brain damages can never truly be cured. Measures to prevent brain injuries are always the best method in the fight against brain injury. Also, as a result of the fact that the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries among American less than 75 years old is car accidents, anything that reduces the possibility for serious injury in an auto accident is a step toward avoiding a brain injury. Seat belts have been shown to not only dramatically reduce fatalities in auto accidents, with 73 percent of survivors in serious car accidents being those who wear their seat belts according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but also to reduce the risk of incurring a traumatic brain injury. According to a major brain injury study conducted in 1997, 46 percent of brain injury patients whose injuries were the result of motor vehicle accident were not wearing their seat belt.

Why Wear A Seat Belt?

Only one state in the U.S. does not require adults to wear seat belts: New Hampshire. Many other states make exceptions to their seat belt requirements for children under a certain age, or for those sitting in the back seat of the car. While some Americans believe that using seat belts can actually increase a driver or passenger's risk of traumatic brain injury, because the head is not restrained with the body, there is no evidence to support this theory and some evidence against it. Similarly, some argue that seat belts make users less safe by trapping them in the car in case of an accident, rather than allowing them to be thrown clear. However, in 2001 the NHTSA noted that 75 percent of those individuals who were ejected completely from a vehicle during an auto accident were killed. One percent of those were using a seat belt.

Seat Belt Use and Costs of Traumatic Brain Injury

Not only can declining to use a seat belt increase the severity of an injury, but it also drives up the cost of treating that injury. The government of Maine showed in a six-year study that those who did not use seat belts had higher hospital bills and longer hospital stays that those who used a seat belt. During that period, the study reported, 850 hospitalizations, with a cost of $17 million, could have been avoided altogether if the patient had been wearing a seat belt. Unbelted victims were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from a head injury. And the crash victims who were ejected from their vehicles were 41 times more likely to sustain a serious or fatal brain injury than those who were not.

Proper Use of Seat Belts Can Reduce Risk of TBI

While seat belts can help prevent a traumatic brain injury, their effectiveness decreases when they are not used properly. Seat belts must be tightened to fit the individual using them. More than one person cannot ever use the same seat belt. If the seat belt is old or frayed, it is not safe and should be replaced. And adults should ensure that children who are under 4'9" and about 80 pounds use the special equipment they need to be safe. Infants and children under 40 pounds need a properly sized, properly belted car seat; older children should use a booster seat until they are big enough to use adult-sized lap and shoulder belts. There is also mounting evidence that children shorter than 4'9" should not ride in the front seat at all, due to the risk of injury from passenger-side air bags.

If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury, you may wish to speak with a fully experienced brain injury attorney. Your brain injury lawyer can help you assess your potential claim, access resources and even gain compensation for your injuries and the costs of future medical care.

By: Peter Kent

Traumatic Brain Injuries (tbis) And Motorcycle Injuries

2009-12-24T13:14:00.002+07:00

One of the most well-known causes of traumatic brain injuries is motorcycle accidents. Although motorcycle accidents and car accidents together make up the greatest cause of brain injury in the United States, motorcyclists are at a much larger risk of being in an accident. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration surmised that per mile traveled in 2003, motorcyclists were 32 times more likely to be in a fatal accident than a passenger riding in a car. This is because auto drivers may not see a motorcyclist or yield to them. One in five motorcyclists are in accidents that result in head or neck injuries, which are responsible for the most motorcycle fatalities.

Motorcyclists, even those who wear helmets, are most likely to sustain non-penetrative injuries to the front of the head, damaging parts of the brain responsible for speech and higher functions. A penetrating brain injury is when an object actually enters the skull and damages the soft tissue of the brain. Motorcyclists who do not wear helmets may be susceptibe to this type of injury. Helmets Essential to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury

Study after study shows that the best way to prevent a traumatic brain injury is to wear a helmet approved by the federal Department of Transportation. (Some also carry approval from the Snell Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to testing the effectiveness of commercial helmets.) In January of 2006, only four states in the U.S. — Colorado, Illinois, New Hampshire and Iowa — had no law at all requiring motorcyclists to use helmets. Twenty-six others had limited helmet laws, usually ones that require helmets for riders who are under 18 or 21.

But even in states without strict helmet laws, riders are still strongly advised that their chances of death or serious head injury are seriously reduced by wearing a helmet. A rider's failure to equip passengers, particularly passengers who are under 21, with helmets may be considered negligent. Even if a helmet is being worn, the helmet may be below state and federal safety standards if it is old, been through a prior accident, or poorly fitted and cannot prevent brain damage, traumatic injury, or death. Other Brain Injury Risks for Motorcyclists

Even though proper equipment significantly cuts down a motorcyclist's chance of a traumatic brain injury, it is not foolproof. Riders must stay aware of other factors that could lead to a motorcycle accident involving a traumatic brain injury. Before each ride, motorcyclists are encouraged to check their equipment and bikes for troubles; adjust the suspension and tire pressure of the motorcycle when carrying a passenger; wear boots, gloves and other protective gear; and adjust for changing road conditions.

Traumatic brain injuries caused by accidents can lead to extremely high costs. A traumatic brain injury causes brain damage that can range from a mild concussion to severe, life-changing disabilities such as trouble communicating, personality changes, schizophrenia, or even a coma. Because the brain cannot heal itself the way other organs do, these are often lifelong problems that cost tens of thousands of dollars to treat. Family members are also affect by brain injuries as they place a serious emotion and financial burden on them. If you or someone you know is the victim of a motorcycle accident causing traumatic brain injury, it is essential to seek out an expert in accidents and TBI who can help reconstruct the accident and secure compensation.

By: Peter Kent

Traumatic Brain Injuries (tbis) And Sports Injuries

2009-12-24T13:11:00.002+07:00

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the head strikes or is stuck by an object. The head does not have to experience an external blow for the brain to be injured. Brain damage can occur when the head is pushed strongly against the skull, such as with whiplash.

Concussion is a mild form of TBI from which recovery often occurs without long term effects unless a person experiences multiple concussions. Severe and continual post-concussion symptoms may be caused by multiple brain injuries. A very serious and dangerous condition or even death can occur if a second concussion is suffered while symptoms from a previous concussion still persist. This condition is called second-impact syndrome (SIS). Sports-Related Concussions ' Causes and Frequency

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 300,000 people experience concussions each year from sports injuries. Most of the concussions that are sports related come from contact sports such as martial arts, football, hockey, and boxing. Other major causes of a large number of sports-related concussions are falls or collisions in sports such as skiing, bicycling, horseback riding, basketball, and soccer. In soccer an additional risk for concussions is "heading" the ball.

Males between the ages of 16 and 25 have the largest likelihood of the population to sustain concussions from sports. Within this group, the risk is highest at the high school level. About 25 percent of the 300,000 sports-related concussions reported each year are suffered by high school students playing contact sports. At the college level, over one third of football players has suffered a concussion and about 20 percent have had multiple concussions. Dangers of Multiple Concussions

Second-impact syndrome (SIS), which is a concussion that occurs while the victim is still recovering from an earlier concussion, has resulted in at least 26 deaths in the past 20 years since this condition was first characterized. Most of the people getting concussions were not even in college yet.

While most cases of SIS and multiple concussions do not cause death, the neuropsychological brain damage they cause is significant. Many studies have shown that athletes who have suffered multiple concussions are more likely to have prolonged learning difficulties and perform more poorly on neuropsychological tests compared to people who have had one concussion or no concussions. Some the well-documented neuropsychological impairments in athletes who have had multiple concussions are:

* Reduced speed in processing new information

* Problem solving and planning difficulties

* Increased number of headaches

* Concentration difficulties

* Memory impairments

* Behavioral problems

Why Athletes Suffer Multiple Concussions

Factors that contribute to why athletes suffer multiple concussions are related to the ability to accurately assess severity and recovery from symptoms. For example, there are several different scales for rating severity at the time of the concussion but there is general lack of agreement on which to use. There is also lack of agreement on what amount of time should pass before athletes can safely return to sports. This is because there are not any widely accepted guidelines for assessing whether the athlete has recovered. Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury

Using proper protective equipment can prevent many cases of concussion. For additional safety, a helmet or other form of suitable headgear should be used in sports where there is contact, or in sports where there is a risk of falling or crashing such as bicycling, horseback riding, or skiing. Custom fitted mouth pieces may also help prevent concussions in contact sports. In order for safety equipment to be effective, it should always be made sure that it fits well and that it is used solely for the purpose that it was meant to be used for.

Although the risk of concussion is inherent in sports participation, decisions as to what sport to participate in can help mitigate the risk of concussion. If you suffer from a brain injury received while playing a sport, you might like to contact an experienced TBI attorney. Your traumatic brain injury attorney can help you assess your potential TBI claim and help you get the compensation you deserve for the devastation incurred in traumatic brain injuries.

By: Peter Kent

Traumatic Brain Injuries And Substance Abuse

2009-12-24T13:06:00.002+07:00

Doctors have consistently affirmed that substance abuse has a roll in many cases where patients are being treated from brain injuries. The injury may be a result of doing an activity while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or the patient may have already been treated for a brain injury and to combat the pain, get involved in substance abuse. Many questions can be asked in these cases such as: What can be done when someone who is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol is also suffering from a brain injury? What part can substance abuse play in a traumatic brain injury?

Who Is At Risk For Traumatic Brain Injury?

Alcohol abuse plays a major role in traumatic brain injury, with many incidents occurring in relation to automobile crashes or heavy equipment used while under the influence. The medical community recognizes that young males are the most likely to suffer from alcohol-related TBI. These incidents may be isolated, but many fall within a context of broader substance abuse: for example, a longitudinal study at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio has found that nearly 60 percent of their patient sample had prior histories of drug and alcohol abuse.

Someone with a previous record of substance abuse may have a more difficult time being hospitalized than those with no previous record or history. This is due to the fact that many patients are both recovering from their brain injuries and dealing with the frustrating physical and emotional effects of detoxification. The presence of drug or alcohol abuse can also complicate diagnoses, as many of the symptoms of overdose (respiratory depression, lethargy, confusion, apathy, and disorientation) are similar to those of traumatic brain injury. Thus, TBI is sometimes overlooked, leading to complications and ongoing symptoms related to insufficient care.

After Discharge: Substance Abuse A Risk For TBI Patients

The struggles with substance abuse do not necessarily end when a traumatic brain injury patient is released from the hospital and discharged to his or her home and community. In fact, they are sometimes just beginning: the difficulty of adjusting to personality changes, emotional upheaval, inability to work, memory and cognitive deficits and other effects of TBI can cause extreme stress and lead a brain-injured patient to indulge in drugs or alcohol to numb the pain. The brain injury patient may not even be able to disclose his or her own problems with substances due to after effects of the injury such as speech issues or memory loss; similarly, they may already exhibit external symptoms some would associate with intoxication and may feel that it doesn't matter if they actually indulge in those substances since their physical symptoms already make them seem as if they do.

What Can Families Do About Substance Abuse and Traumatic Brain Injury?

Loved ones and families of the victim can be the biggest help in acquainting themselves and making interventions in the substance abuse after the brain injury. Families who take care of the brain injured patient are often the first to notice that the person they are caring for is developing a substance addiction. Families can help inform health care providers of these issues, encourage their loved one to seek rehabilitation, and refuse to enable the addictive behaviors of a traumatic brain injury victim with a substance abuse problem. They can also provide a supportive atmosphere that is drug-free and oriented towards rehabilitation and high function. However, substance abuse can have an enormous negative impact on family members who suffer emotionally as their loved one slides into dangerous habits. It is essential that families of traumatic brain injury survivors with associated substance abuse issues seek out their own support, either through a professional counselor or a local Al-Anon group, in order to cope with the ravages of substance abuse.

Some families may wish to hire an experienced brain injury attorney to help them address not only medical care for substance abuse treatment, but the myriad of other issues related to traumatic brain injury. TBI is stressful on families and individuals; a clever lawyer who is an expert at brain injuries can maneuver the legal system and find essential services and help and possibly also help to find financial support or compensation for expenses that can come from being out of work or needing medication, as well as emotional turmoil.

By: Peter Kent

Preventing Brain Damage After A Brain Insult

2009-12-23T20:36:00.001+07:00

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is actually a major cause of disability and death in the world. It is a leading killer of people who are beneath the age of 45. The major causes of TBI include violence, falls, sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents. People can often prevent accidents when the proper safety precautions are taken. Traumatic brain injury can be devastating for those who have to undergo it. Those who have damage to their brain can have a range of negative side effects that can have a large impact on their lives. Currently there are few if any pharmacological treatments for traumatic brain injury.

Science, though, is working towards having better treatments that may be able to reduce damage to the brain that occurs immediately after an injury. Scientists may have discovered a new method of treating brain injury. Researchers have been using a polymer called polyethylene glycol to reduce brain damage in animals. Polyethylene glycol (PEG; 2000 MW, 30% by volume) has actually been shown to repair mechanically damaged cellular membranes in the brain. PEG can also reduce secondary axotomy when an animal has sustained a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain insult. Basically this means that fewer brain cells will be killed off after undergoing a brain insult. This would be of enormous help to many accident victims.

For this particular project, the scientists basically injected the polyethylene glycol into the animals brains after they sustained a traumatic brain insult. This injection enabled the researchers to reduce the severity of damage to the animals brain. The repair is achieved because there is a spontaneous assembly of the cell membranes of the brain cell neuron. PEG is a hydrophilic polymer which is able to seal damaged portions of the neuron.

The evidence indicated that if PEG is delivered to victims of traumatic brain injury immediately after an insult, it can improve patient outcomes. The researchers are continuing the research by doing a veterinary clinical study of PEG on canines suffering from head injury.

This technique may eventually find use among humans who have undergone a brain insult. It could go a long way in reducing the amount of damage that is due to having a traumatic brain injuries. Science is currently progressing towards being able to minimize brain damage and also repairing that brain damage as well. This could certainly a huge boon for the thousands of Americans who sustain these injuries every year.

By: Robert Webb

Brain Injuries Increase Risk Of Developing Dementia

2009-12-23T20:30:00.002+07:00

A study recently published in the journal of Biological Psychiatry has discovered a link between accelerated dementia and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and brain infections. Individuals affected by dementia may see an acceleration of their condition when inflammation of the brain occurs because of a brain injury that also leads to an infection.

Scientists had already been aware of systemic inflammation, in which the body becomes inflamed as a whole, to have an affect on brain function, according the study; however, until recently, little research had been done on the link between systemic inflammation and dementia/neurodegenerative diseases.

The study, conducted by members from the Trinity College Dublin and University of Southampton, studied the "inflammatory response" to infection and injury of mice with previous neurodegenerative disease (brain damage caused by loss of cells and neurons). According to the study, "the response caused exaggerated symptoms of the infection, causes changes in memory and learning and leads to accelerated progression of dementia." These findings create an urgency among TBI victims who may be at risk for accelerated or early on-set demetia to speak with a medical professional.

Dealing With Dementia

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) defines dementia as a "loss of brain function," however, the condition is not considered a single disease, but is described as a "group of illnesses that involve memory, behavior, learning and communications problems." Dementia is also a progressive condition that is marked by a lengthy list of symptoms, as described by the NLM. Signs and symptoms of dementia include:

* lack of concentration

* increased/progressive memory loss

* hallucinations/delusion

* confusion

* decrease in problem-solving and judgement

* impaired recognition

* disorientation

* motor system impairment

* memory deficit

* absent or impaired language ability

* lack of spontaneity

* irritability, poor temper control

* anxiety

* depression

* inability to read, write, speak, form words and name objects

* no observable mood

* inability to maintain employment or interact in social or personal situations

Unfortunately, treatments for dementia are slim and may only include treating symptoms with dietary supplements and prescription medicines. Additionally, individuals with dementia will likely need long-term care such as 24-hour monitoring and in-home care to control aggression and to monitor their potential for personal injury, according to a February 2008 article from The New York Times on the details of dementia.

Overcoming TBI Risks

Individuals have suffered from a traumatic brain injury or a brain infection and thus have increased the inflammation within the brain should consider speaking with a specialized medical professional or neurologist about the potential for developing accelerated dementia.

It is also advisable for a brain injury victim to contact an experienced brain injury attorney as it may become necessary to develop a lawsuit. To receive a free legal consultation, locate a brain injury law firm and learn about the details of developing a case that may earn a victim monetary compensation to pay for medical brain injury treatments.

By: Katie Kelley

Recovering From Brain And Head Injury

2009-12-23T19:40:00.002+07:00

Millions of people in the United States suffer from brain and head injuries due to accidents each year. Although there are minor cases, more than half of the incident is fatal and some even suffered to permanent brain damage while some died.

Head Injury

Head injury is a trauma to the head that include not only injuries to the brain but also to other parts of the head such as skull and scalp.

According to statistics, the incidence of head injury reaches 300 per 100, 000 or 0.3 percent of the total population.

Common causes of head injury are:

Vehicle accidents

Occupational and home accidents

Falls

Physical attack or assault

When involved in any of these incidents, sooner, you will feel any of the following symptoms of head injury:

Nausea or vomiting

Seizures

Headache that does not go away

Inability to wake from sleep

Enlarged pupils of the eyes

Increased restlessness and confusion

Slurred speech

Numbness in the arms and legs

Loss of coordination

Brain injury
Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, as stated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, 1.9 million Americans suffer from it.

Brain injury, like the head injury can also be the result of vehicle accidents, firearms, workplace accidents and home or public places accidents.

Symptoms may vary depending on the damage. It may include vomiting, seizure, inability to do task- even the simplest task, inability to understand words, inability to communicate, too much sleep or cannot sleep, head or neck pain and impaired vision.

Threats of Brain and Head Injury

Brain and head injury will surely affect you financially, mentally and emotionally.
Your personality, ability and your life may suffer once you sustained a brain or head injury. It would not only affect you but your family and relatives as well.

You may not be able to work, or return from work because you are required to have a constant medical attention. You may also experience financial difficulty due to your medication and rehabilitation, and even for future cause of the injury.

Tips to recovery

Although the threats of brain and head injury are distressing, you can easily recover from emotional suffering through helping yourself and through the help of your loved ones.

You can also do the following tips:

1.Learn everything about brain and head injury and its life-long effects

2.Learn what will be its effects on you, and how to limit its impact.

3.Create a treatment plan and timeline

4.Learn how you will benefit from this treatment

5.Make a rehabilitation goal

6.Work hard to attain your rehabilitation goal

7.When things don't work easily, you must embrace the difficulty and challenges

Some people could help you aside from your family, to recover from this trauma, such as the brain and head injury lawyer.
A brain and head injury lawyer will be a great help especially when the injury you sustained is caused by the fault of a person, a defective product or entity.

A brain and head injury lawyer will help you recover the fair amount of compensation from the negligent party. This will greatly help in minimizing the expenses brought by the injury.

By: Darren Agaton

Birth Injuries Education Do You Have A Potential Lawsuit

2009-12-23T19:28:00.002+07:00

The birth of a child is a joyous event in any family, but can quickly turn to tragedy when a fragile infant or its mother suffers birth injury as a result of medical malpractice. The most common cause of birth injury to babies is oxygen deprivation, which can occur during delivery and may be traced to negligence on the part of a medical professional. However, sub-standard prenatal care, improper delivery practices, and even poor care given to infants immediately after birth can all cause birth injuries and should be brought to the attention of the law in a medical malpractice claim.

Common Birth Injuries

A birth injury to a vulnerable infant can occur in seconds, but the repercussions can include a lifetime of costly and painful medical treatment, loss of mobility, and even brain damage that can dramatically compromise a childs future. Common birth injuries include:

Cerebral palsy
Shoulder dystocia
Erbs policy
Forceps injuries
Vacuum injuries
Spinal cord damage
Brain damage
Infection to mother or baby
Surgical error during C-Section
Improper pre- or post-natal care

Birth Injury Compensation and Defense

Compensation for damages such as pain and suffering, loss of functions, and medical bills can help families ensure that birth injury victims receive the care they need into the future.

If your child suffered a birth injury, you have the right to pursue compensation. While no amount of money can restore health to your child, the financial and psychological costs of raising a child with health concerns or disability can be staggering. By working with an attorney who is experienced in birth injury victim defense, families can hold negligent professionals responsible and assuage financial worries so they can focus on providing the best care to their injured child.

By: Daniel Beasley

Fatal Brain Injury May Be Caused By Viral Meningitis

2009-12-23T19:25:00.002+07:00

A recent issue of the science journal Nature described a paradigm shift among lethal infections that may be "ravaging the brain" and causing the development of serious traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and traumatic brain injury side effects such as brain swelling, seizures and epilepsy.

Infections such as meningitis have been thought to cause damage to the brain, but not to the extent that an infection is actually causing, according to recent studies. Researchers tested the effects of a meningitis infection by injecting the disease into mice. They found that blood vessels begin exploding in addition to the cells that were once thought to be responsible for brain damage. Researchers are continuing to look into the effects of meningitis as a major cause of TBI, but for now have determined that new brain injury treatments are likely needed to treat meningitis-induced TBI.

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis occurs in an individual as an infection of the fluid surrounding a spinal cord and the brain. There are two common forms of meningitis that are often described in the news: bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is often considered a deadly bacteria that can quickly cause brain injury and brain damage including hearing loss and learning disabilities, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). Viral meningitis is listed as "generally less severe" and can be healed without a specific treatment, although research now describes both viral and bacterial meningitis as more harmful to the brain than once thought.

The disease is considered very contagious, although less so than the common cold or flu. Bacterial meningitis can be spread through an "exchange of respiratory and throat secretions" such as kissing, coughing or sharing drinks, food and utensils, according to the CDC.

There are vaccines against meningitis but individuals should also be aware of signs and symptoms of the condition as well, especially if they work in an office, day care, school-type environment, etc. The Meningitis Foundation of America described the following symptoms of the condition:

* vomiting

* headache

* drowsiness

* seizures

* high temperatures

* joint pain

* stiff neck

* rash

* sensitivity to light

* infants may have a high-pitched cry, dislike being held while arching back

* pale skin color

* high fever

TBI Side Effects

Unfortunately there are a vast number of side effects and conditions that can develop when a patient suffers from a traumatic brain injury incident. There are treatments that are being developed and several clinical trials that are always ongoing, but much of a TBI treatment also depends on the victim and the victim's prognosis. However, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reports that the following conditions are common among TBI victims:

* difficulty thinking, reasoning

* memory problems

* problems with sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing

* inability to communicate, express and understand

* behavioral issues, acting out

* increased aggression

* anxiety, depression

* social inappropriateness

* personality changes

* stupor, coma

Living With A Brain Injury

Living with a traumatic brain injury can be a difficult scenario, for both a victim and their support group including friends and family. It is important that an individual who feels they may have suffered from a traumatic brain injury to seek a medical assessment immediately, as a brain injury can worsen if not treated properly.

Additionally, it may be necessary for a TBI victim to receive a free legal consultation from a brain injury attorney in order to develop a TBI lawsuit, which may provide an award of monetary compensation. Often, TBI treatments and medical diagnosis can be expensive, and if an individual has little to no coverage from health insurance, a brain injury could mean losing their home, job or more, which is why brain injury litigation may assist a victim in receiving treatment payment.

By: Katie Kelley

Spirituality Linked To Traumatic Brain Injury Incident

2009-12-23T19:17:00.002+07:00

A study at the University of Missouri-Columbia has found a conncetion between brain damage of the right parietal lobe and an increase in feelings of spirituality. The study followed approximately 26 individuals who were considered brain-damaged and capable of functioning, but also considered "walking wounded."

Each individual was tested on a standard measure of spirituality and was found to have increased feeling of spirituality and religious experiences after their brain injury.

According to the Encyclopedia, "the right parietal lobe is especially involved in appreciation of spatial relationships." The lobe is located on the upper right side of the cerebral hemisphere on the outer surface.

Preventing TBI

The National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed a safety tip list that may assist in prevention of a traumatic brain injury. The list includes the following:

* wear a seatbelt

* buckle children into child safety seats, booster seats properly

* keep firearms and bullets locked away in a cabinet

* use handrails on stairways

* use a step-stool when reaching for upper-shelf objects

* install window guards to avoid children from falling out windows

* use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs

* ensure that a child's playground has a shock-absorbing surface

NINDS and CDC also have advised that a helmet always be worn during the following activities:

* riding a bicycle and motorcycle

* contact sports including hockey, rugby and football

* in-line skating, skateboarding

* riding a horse

* playing baseball or softball

* skiing and snowboarding

Suffering From Brain Damage

According to an October 2007 Science Daily article, "brain damage or brain injury is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain damage may occur to a wide range of conditions, illnesses, or injuries." Each year millions of Americans suffer from a traumatic brain injury incident, and of those, many go untreated for their condition.

It is imperative that an individual be treated by an experienced brain injury physician or even a neurologist in order to improve the accuracy of a diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, it is advisable for a brain injury victim to obtain assistance from an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney who can offer a free legal consultation as to the details surrounding a potential traumatic brain injury lawsuit. Such a lawsuit may increase the potential for earning monetary funds as compensation to pay for costly medical bills and TBI treatments/therapies. Patients suffering from a traumatic brain injury are advised to obtain as much information as possible, as knowledge, especially with regards to TBI, is power and can mean the difference between a successful treatment and one that offers only mediocre outcomes.

By: Katie Kelley

The Affects Of A Brain Injury

2009-12-23T19:13:00.002+07:00

Trauma is the most common cause of acquired brain injury particularly in young people, of course there are other ways in which the brain can acquire injury, stroke is particularly common from middle age onwards then there are rarer conditions of the brain like infections and tumors. The brain is very sensitive to the amount of blood getting through to it, so anything which impedes the flow of blood to the brain or lowers oxygen to the brain, can damage it. Poisons in the blood, such as carbon monoxide from car fumes, can poison the brain. Finally there are treatments people can receive in good faith, which can damage the brain, a surgeon operating on the brain to remove a tumor can inadvertently damage it and radiation therapy, which is often used to treat malignant brain tumors, can damage the it especially in young people.

There are two broad guidelines to asses the severity of a brain injury. The first is how unconscious the patient is at their very worst, and this is measured with something called the Glasgow Coma Score, this is usually measured out of 15, 15 is fully conscious and three is as deeply unconscious as you can be and still be alive. The Glasgow Coma Score has three levels in it, one is to do with response to eye movement and eye opening, another is to do with response to speech, and the third is to do with response to movement. These three levels can all be given a number, and that gives you the total figure. Broadly speaking, any head injury in which the Glasgow Coma Score goes to eight or below is classified as a very severe brain injury.

The second things that's used to asses the severity if a brain injury is what's called the post traumatic amnesia (PTA), this is the period of time from the accident to when continuous memory returns. The PTA doesn't shrink, so if a month after a head injury a person has a PTA of an hour, its still going to be an hour a year later. The PTA has a very close connection to time taken to get back to work and it's also one of the factors in the risk of getting late traumatic epilepsy.

The temporal lobes, on either side of the brain, are concerned predominantly with memory, but they also have input into mood and emotions. The most devastating effect of serious damage to the temporal lobes is loss of memory, particularly the loss of short-term memory. The occipital lobes at the back of the brain are where vision is perceived. They're not often damaged in acquired brain injury, but when they are damaged, there can be very severe impairments of how the brain sees the world.

The cerebellum, at the back part of the head, controls coordination of movement and coordination of the muscles of the larynx (the voice box). If they're damaged the injured person will be clumsy with their arms and their legs and their speech may also be slurred and clumsy, they may also have difficulty with swallowing too.

One of the most obvious problems that can develop from a brain injury is weakness of an arm or a leg or lack of coordination of an arm or a leg. Speech and language functions can be damaged either in terms of getting out words, understanding words or just in the mechanics of producing speech, so speech may become blurred or slurred. The special senses (hearing, vision, smell and taste) are not often damaged with the exception of smell, when smell is lost the finer points of taste are also lost.

When it comes to recovering from a brain injury there is no fixed period of time. The time is longer in children in the first 10 - 15 years of life. Essentially most recovery occurs in the first 18 months. A better way of looking at it is that when someone has reached the plateau and has remained at that plateau for six months, that's probably how they're going to stay.

By: Kimberlie Hutson

Dangers Of Acquired Brain Injury

2009-12-23T18:17:00.001+07:00

Acquired brain injury or ABI is any damage to the brain resulting from a sudden, external, physical assault. Such injury is one of the most common causes of death and disability in adults.

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is an expansive term, which describes a wide range of injuries that occur to the brain. Damage to the brain may either be:

Focal - damage is limited to one section of the brain

Diffuse - damage occurs in more than one section of the brain

The severity of brain injuries may range from a minor concussion to a serious injury which results in coma or death.

Acquired brain injuries (ABI) are also known as traumatic brain injuries or TBI.

Statistics of Brain Injury

Here are some statistics about brain injuries from the Brain Injury Association:

There are around 1.5 million Americans that suffer brain injuries and about 80,000 suffer from long-term disabilities every year.

Today, more than five million people in the United States are living with a disability related to traumatic brain injuries.

Every year, over 50,000 people in the U.S. die after traumatic brain injuries.

Types of Acquired Brain Injury

Brain injuries can occur in two ways:

Closed Brain Injury

A closed brain injury occurs when there is a non-penetrating damage to the brain without a break in the skull. It is caused by a rapid backward or forward shaking and movement of the brain inside the skull, resulting in the tearing and bruising of blood vessels and brain tissues. Such injuries are often caused by vehicle accidents and falls.

Open or Penetrating Brain Injury

Open or penetrating head injuries occur when the skull breaks, damaging the brain, such as when a bullet pierces the brain.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

Diffuse axonal injury or DAI is the tearing or shearing of the long connective fibers or axons of the brain. This occurs when the brain gets damaged as it rotates and shifts inside the skull. DAI often causes coma and injury to various areas of the brain. The changes in the brain are usually microscopic and may not be seen on magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scans, or computed tomography or CT scan.

Primary Brain Injury

Primary brain injury refers to the profound and sudden injury to the brain that is considered to be almost complete at the time of impact. This injury occurs at the time of a fall, car accident, or gunshot wound.

Secondary Brain Injury

Secondary brain injuries refer to the changes which evolve over a certain period of time, from hours to day, following primary brain injuries. This includes an entire cascade of blood vessel, tissue, chemical, or cellular changes in the brain that play a part to the further destruction of brain tissues.

Getting Help

An acquired brain injury can range from mild to serious injuries. But no matter how mild or how serious your injury is, if this resulted from an accident because of someone elses fault, you have the right to recover damages. In such instances, it is important to get legal advice from a lawyer who has various experiences in handling personal injury cases.

By: Kamille Pagibigan

Causes Of A Brain Injury

2009-12-23T18:15:00.001+07:00

The Brain is the centre of the nervous system and one of the most complex organs in the human body, if damaged it is one of the hardest organs to repair. If you find yourself suffering from any form of brain injury it can be scary enough without having to decipher what the medical jargon means or understand what the doctors are talking about. This article explains the basics of how a brain injury can be sustained and what implications that injury can have.

When is comes to assessing a brain injury, it's distinguished between the primary brain injury, which is everything that happens at the moment of impact, and the secondary brain injury, which is everything that happens there after.

The primary brain injury can be bleeding over the surface of the brain, bruising of the surface of the brain or shaking of the brain. On rare occasions there can also be penetration brain injury when something actually goes into the brain directly like a missile of some sort. These are all things that happen at the moment of the injury.

Then there's the secondary injury, this is everything that happens thereafter. Brain swelling or bleeding can results from a brain injury, this can increase the pressure on the brain which can result in brain damage or in the worst cases, blood clots can form which can result in death. This happens because the brain is a closed box and pressure in the skull will have nowhere to go.

It's not just direct damage to the brain itself that can result in a brain injury, but also external factors like what's going on in the rest of the body that can cause a brain injury too. The normal brain is very sensitive to the amount of oxygen, carbon dioxide and the amount of sugar in the blood. These are all things that can go wrong when the body has suffered a brain injury. If a person is not breathing properly, then the brain may acquire secondary damage. In vary rare circumstances infections can also result in brain damage, meningitis is one of the more common examples of this.

Unfortunately there is little that can be done about primary injury apart from prevention. In theory, secondary injury can be influenced and hopefully controlled through appropriate care and attention.

If someone has just suffered a server head injury, then by far the most important immediate treatment is preservation of their airway and their breathing. The brain is so dependant on the right amount of oxygen getting to the blood, this applies to the normal brain and it's particularly important for the damaged brain. Immediate resuscitative measures, restoration of breathing and support of the circulation are the immediate measures required. The next step is an overall assessment of the patient to see if they've got other injuries as well. Part of that should involve images by way of a CT scan, once the patient has been resuscitated, and the immediate assessment has been made, there should be discussion with a neurosurgeon if needed.

There can be several unfortunate side effects which could have an impact on the future health of a person with a head injury. The risk of an uninjured brain suffering from an epileptic fit is very low (1% - 2% of the general population), where as, this risk increases in an injured brain (up to 60% - 70%). This is of course dependent on how much damage the brain has suffered. Occasionally, more often in the young child rather than the adult, there can be a failure of drainage of spinal fluid (this is the clear fluid made in chambers inside the brain) this condition is called hydrocephalus and can also result in brain damage or injury.

By: Kimberlie Hutson

Traumatic Brain Injuries

2009-12-23T18:01:00.002+07:00

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of physical trauma to the head causing damage to the brain. This damage can be focal, or restricted to a single area of the brain, or diffuse, affecting more than one region of the brain. By definition, TBI requires that there be a head injury, or any physical assault to the head leading to injury of the scalp, skull, or brain. However, not all head trauma is associated with TBI.

TBI is sometimes known as acquired brain injury. The least severe and most common type of TBI is termed a concussion, which is technically defined as a brief loss of consciousness after a head injury without any physical evidence of damage on an imaging study such as a CT or MRI scan. In common parlance, concussion may refer to any minor injury to the head or brain.

Symptoms, complaints, and neurological or behavioral changes following TBI depend on the location (s) of the brain injury and on the total volume of injured brain. Usually, TBI causes focal brain injury involving a single area of the brain where the head is struck or where an object such as a bullet enters the brain. Although damage is typically worst at the point of direct impact or entry, TBI may also cause diffuse brain injury involving several other brain regions.

Closed head injury refers to TBI in which the head is hit by or strikes an object without breaking the skull. In a penetrating head injury, an object such as a bullet fractures the skull and enters brain tissue.

Diffuse brain damage associated with closed head injury may result from back-and-forth movement of the brain against the inside of the bony skull. This is sometimes called coup-contrecoup injury. "Coup," or French for "blow," refers to the brain injury directly under the point of maximum impact to the skull. "Contrecoup," or French for "against the blow," refers to the brain injury opposite the point of maximum impact.

For example, coup-contrecoup injury may occur in a rear-end collision, with high speed stops, or with violent shaking of a baby, because the brain and skull are of different densities, and therefore travel at different speeds. The impact of the collision causes the soft, gelatinous brain tissue to jar against bony prominences on the inside of the skull.

Because of the location of these prominences and the position of the brain within the skull, the frontal lobes (behind the forehead) and temporal lobes (underlying the temples) are most susceptible to this type of diffuse damage. These lobes house major brain centers involved in speech and language, so problems with communication skills often follow closed head injuries of this type.

Depending on which areas of the brain are injured, other symptoms of closed head injury may include difficulty with concentration, memory, thinking, swallowing, walking, balance, and coordination; weakness or paralysis; changes in sensation; and alteration of the sense of smell.

Consequences of TBI can be relatively subtle or completely devastating, related to the severity and mechanism of injury. Diffuse axonal injury, or shear injury, may follow contrecoup injury even if there is no damage to the skull or obvious bleeding into the brain tissue. In this type of injury, damage to the part of the nerve that communicates with other nerves degenerates and releases harmful substances that can damage neighboring nerves.

When the skull cracks or breaks, the resulting skull fracture can cause a contusion, or an area of bruising of brain tissue associated with swelling and blood leaking from broken blood vessels. A depressed skull fracture occurs when fragments of the broken skull sink down from the skull surface and press against the surface of the brain. In a penetrating skull fracture, bone fragments enter brain tissue. Either of these types of skull fracture can cause bruising of the brain tissue, called a contusion. Contrecoup injury can also lead to brain contusion.

If the physical trauma to the head ruptures a major blood vessel, the resulting bleeding into or around the brain is called a hematoma. Bleeding between the skull and the dura, the thick, outermost layer covering the brain, is termed an epidural hematoma. When blood collects in the space between the dura and the arachnoid membrane, a more fragile covering underlying the dura, it is known as a subdural hematoma. An intracerebral hematoma involves bleeding directly into the brain tissue.

All three types of hematomas can damage the brain by putting pressure on vital brain structures. Intracerebral hematomas can cause additional damage as toxic breakdown products of the blood harm brain cells, cause swelling, or interrupt the flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain.

Estimates for the number of Americans living today who have had a TBI range from between 2.5 and 6.5 million, making it a major public health problem costing the United States more than $48 billion annually. A recent review suggests that the incidence of TBI in the United States is between 180 and 250 per 100,000 population per year, with even higher incidence in Europe and South Africa.

Although TBI can affect anyone at any age, certain age groups are more vulnerable because of lifestyle and other risk factors. Males ages 15 to 24, especially those in lower socioeconomic levels, are most likely to become involved in high-speed or other risky driving, as well as physical fights and criminal activity. These behaviors increase the likelihood of TBI associated with automobile and motorcycle accidents or with violent crimes.

Infants, children under five years of age, and adults 75 years and older are also at higher risk for TBI than the general population because they are most susceptible to falls around the home. Other factors predisposing the very young and the very old to TBI include physical abuse, such as violent shaking of an infant or toddler that can result in shaken baby syndrome.

Causes and symptoms

Accidents, especially motor vehicle accidents, are the major culprit implicated in TBI. Because accidents are the leading cause of death or disability in men under age 35, and because over 70% of accidents involve injuries of the head and/or spinal cord, this is not surprising. In fact, transportation accidents involving automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians account for half of all TBIs and for the majority of TBIs in individuals under the age of 75. At least half of all TBIs are associated with alcohol use. Sports injuries cause about 3% of TBIs; other accidents leading to TBI may occur at home, at work, or outdoors.

In those age 75 and older, falls are responsible for most TBIs. Other situations leading to TBI at all ages include violence, implicated in about 20% of TBIs. Firearm assaults are involved in most violent causes of TBI in young adults, whereas child abuse is the most common violent cause in infants and toddlers. In the shaken baby syndrome, a baby is shaken with enough force to cause severe countrecoup injury.

The symptoms of TBI may occur immediately or they may develop slowly over several hours, especially if there is slow bleeding into the brain or gradual swelling. Depending on the cause, mechanism, and extent of injury, the severity of immediate symptoms of TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, ranging from mild concussion to deep coma or even death.

With concussion, the injured person may experience a brief or transient loss of consciousness, much like fainting or passing out, or merely an alteration in consciousness described as "seeing stars" or feeling dazed or "out of it." On the other hand, coma refers to a profound or deep state of unconsciousness in which the individual does not respond to the environment in any meaningful way.

When a person with TBI regains consciousness, some symptoms are immediately apparent, while others are not noticed until several days or weeks later. Symptoms which may be obvious right away after mild TBI include headache, changes in vision such as blurred vision or tired eyes, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, or altered sense of smell which is usually experienced as loss of the sense of taste.

Approximately 40% of patients with TBI develop postconcussion syndrome within days to weeks, with symptoms including headache, dizziness or a sensation of spinning (vertigo), memory problems, trouble concentrating, sleep disturbances, restlessness, irritability, depression, and anxiety. This syndrome may persist for a few weeks, especially in patients with depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric symptoms before the TBI.

With more severe injuries, there may also be immediate numbness or weakness of one or more limbs, blindness, deafness, inability to speak or understand speech, slurred speech, lethargy with difficulty staying awake, persistent vomiting, loss of coordination, disorientation, or agitation. In addition to some of these symptoms, young children with moderate to severe TBI may also experience prolonged crying and refusal to nurse or eat.

While the injured person is preoccupied with headache or pain related to other physical trauma, symptoms such as difficulty in thinking or concentrating may not be evident. Often these more subtle symptoms may appear only when the individual attempts to return to work or to other mentally challenging situations. Similarly, personality changes, depression, irritability, and other emotional and behavioral problems may initially be attributed to coping with the stress of the injury, and they may not be fully appreciated until the individual is recuperating at home.

Seizures may occur soon after a TBI or may first appear up to a year later, especially when the damage involves the temporal lobes. Other symptoms which may appear immediately or which may be noticed only while the individual is returning to usual activities are confusion, fatigue or lethargy, altered sleep patterns, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, and finding the right words or understanding speech.

Diagnosis

Recognizing a serious head injury, starting basic first aid, and seeking emergency medical care can help the injured person avoid disability or even death. When encountering a potential TBI, it is helpful to find out what happened from the injured person, from clues at the scene, and from any eyewitnesses. Because spinal cord injury often accompanies serious head trauma, it is prudent to assume that there is also injury to the spinal cord and to avoid moving the person until the paramedics arrive. Spinal cord injury is a challenging diagnosis; nearly one-tenth of spinal cord injuries accompanying TBI are missed initially.

Signs apparent to the observer that suggest serious head injury and mandate emergency treatment include shallow or erratic breathing or pulse; drop in blood pressure; broken bones or other obvious trauma to the skull or face such as bruising, swelling or bleeding; one pupil larger than the other; or clear or bloody fluid drainage from the nose, mouth, or ears.

Symptoms reported by the injured person that should also raise red flags include severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting, paralysis or inability to move one or more limbs, blindness, deafness, or inability to taste or smell. Other ominous developments may include initial improvement followed by worsening symptoms; deepening lethargy or unresponsiveness; personality change, irritability, or unusual behavior; or incoordination.

When emergency personnel arrive, they will stabilize the patient, evaluate the above signs and symptoms, and assess the nature and extent of other injuries, such as broken bones, spinal cord injury, or damage to other organ systems. Medical advances in early detection and treatment of associated injuries have improved the overall out-come in TBI. The initial evaluation measures vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rate, while the neurological examination assesses reflexes, level of consciousness, ability to move the limbs, and pupil size, symmetry, and response to light.

These neurological features are standardized using the Glasgow Coma Scale, a test scored from 1 to 15 points. Each of three measures (eye opening, best verbal response, and best motor response) is scored separately, and the combined score helps determine the severity of TBI. A total score of 3 to 8 reflects a severe TBI, 9 to 12 a moderate TBI, and 13 to 15 a mild TBI.

Imaging tests reveal the location and extent of brain injury and associated injuries and therefore help determine diagnosis and probable outcome. Sophisticated imaging tests can help differentiate the variety of unconscious states associated with TBI and can help determine their anatomical basis.

Until neck fractures or spinal instability have been ruled out with skull and neck x rays, and with head and neck computed tomography (CT) scan for more severe injuries, the patient should remain immobilized in a neck and back restraint.

By constructing a series of cross-sectional slices, or xray images through the head and brain, the CT scan can diagnose bone fractures, bleeding, hematomas, contusions, swelling of brain tissue, and blockage of the ventricular system circulating cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. In later stages after the initial injury, it may also show shrinkage of brain volume in areas where neurons have died.

Using magnetic fields to detect subtle changes in brain tissue related to differences in water content, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan shows more detail than x rays or CT. However, it takes more time than the CT and is not as readily available, making it less suited for routine emergency imaging.

For patients with seizures or for those with more subtle episodic symptoms thought possibly to be seizures, the electroencephalogram (EEG) may reveal abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain or brain waves. Other diagnostic techniques that may be helpful include cerebral angiography, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Treatment

Although no specific treatment may be needed for a mild head injury, it is crucial to watch the person closely for any developing symptoms over the next 24 hours. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, available over the counter, may be used for mild headache. However, aspirin should not be given because it can increase the risk of bleeding.

If the person is sleeping, he should be awakened every two to three hours to determine alertness and orientation to name, time, and place. Immediate medical help is needed if the person becomes unusually drowsy or disoriented, develops a severe headache or stiff neck, vomits, loses consciousness, or behaves abnormally.

Treatment for moderate or severe TBI should begin as soon as possible by calling 911 and beginning emergency care until the EMT team arrives. This includes stabilizing the head and neck by placing the hands on both sides of the person's head to keep the head in line with the spine and prevent movement which could worsen spinal cord injury. Bleeding should be controlled by firmly pressing a clean cloth over the wound unless a skull fracture is suspected, in which case it should be covered with sterile gauze dressing without applying pressure. If the person is vomiting, the head, neck, and body should be rolled to the side as one unit to prevent choking without further injuring the spine.

Although the initial brain damage caused by trauma is often irreversible, the goal is to stabilize the patient and prevent further injury. To achieve these goals, the treatment team must insure adequate oxygen supply to the brain and the rest of the body, maintain blood flow to the brain, control blood pressure, stabilize the airway, assist in breathing or perform CPR if necessary, and treat associated injuries.

About half of severely head-injured patients require neurosurgery for hematomas or contusions. Swelling of the injured brain may cause increased pressure within the closed skull cavity, known as increased intracranial pressure (ICP). ICP can be measured with a intraventricular probe or catheter inserted through the skull into the fluid-filled chambers (ventricles) within the brain. Placement of the ICP catheter is usually guided by CT scan. If ICP is elevated, ventriculostomy may be needed. This procedure drains cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and reduces ICP. Drugs that may decrease ICP include mannitol and barbiturates.

A recent review suggests that using intraventricular catheters coated with antibiotics reduces the risk for infection. Keeping the patient's body temperature low (hypothermia) also improves outcome after moderate to severe TBI. Increasing the level of oxygen in the blood beyond normal concentrations is also being explored as a treatment option for improving brain metabolism in TBI. Large, multicenter trials of these and other treatments, such as early surgery to relieve increased ICP, are still needed, and the quest continues for a therapy that could prevent nerve cell death in TBI.

Although some patients need medication for psychiatric and physical problems resulting from the TBI, prescribing drugs may be problematic because TBI patients are more sensitive to side effects.

Both in the immediate and later stages of TBI, rehabilitation is vital to optimal recovery of ability to function at home and in society. The Consensus Development Conference on Rehabilitation of Persons with TBI, held by the National Institutes of Health in 1998, recommended individualized rehabilitation based on specific strengths and abilities.

Problems with orientation, thinking, and communication should be addressed early, often during the hospital stay. The focus is typically on improving alertness, attention, orientation, speech understanding, and swallowing problems.

As the patient improves, rehabilitation should be modified accordingly. The panel suggested that physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, physiatry (physical medicine), psychology/psychiatry, and social support should all play a role in TBI rehabilitation. Appropriate settings for rehabilitation may include the home, the hospital outpatient department, inpatient rehabilitation centers, comprehensive day programs, supportive living programs, independent living centers, and school-based programs. Families should become involved in rehabilitation, in modifying the home environment if needed, and in psychotherapy or counseling as indicated.

easy steps to save the brain

2009-12-23T17:48:00.003+07:00

Anyone does not want to lose their precious brain.But,we do most of the damage to ourselves.The amount of information processed by your ten billion brain cells each second makes our most advanced computers look like children's toys.Your brain controls everything, from the smallest wiggle of your toes to the momently balance of hundreds of hormones and the microscopically regulated metabolism of all the thirty trillion cells that enables you to think, feel and behave like a human being.

When only a few thousand brain cells get damaged or die,it effects our whole body. Because of poor nutriton, pollution in our body, over-use of drugs and lack of exercise, progressive brain damage builds up. Our intelligence declines, memories fade, muscles astrophy, bones weaken, immunity is lost and we become aged and an easy prey for every disease.

Undoubtedly,the final solution to disease lies in the prevention of brain degeneration.The good news is that recent nutrition science have discovered ways to maintain and even improve brain function.

In the average person, the first brain function to go is memory, starting at age 30 and accelerating after the age of 40.As long as you can store new information in long-term memory and recall it, you can change your behaviour, improve your skills and enhance your life.

If that capacity declines, you become an automat, not able to learn anything new, forever re-enacting the habits and memories of an increasingly distant past.

In order to prevent this decline, it is good to know something about the structure of the neurons, which are the nerves in our brain. Each neuron consists of a stringy filement called a dendrite, then a cell body, then another stringly filement called an axon.

The dendrite carries nerve impulses towards the cell body and the axon carries them away again. The nerve impulses carry information, much like the electrical impulses that carry your spoken information along a telephone line.

However, unlike phone lines, neurons are not connected to each other. The end of axon of each neuron stops near the ends of dendrites of other neurons. The gap between the axon and the dendrites is called a synapse. The transmission of nerve impulses across the synapse is accomplished chemically by the release of neurotransmitters, compounds that flow from the axon to the neighboring dendrites.

Two of these compounds known to be involved in memory are serotonin and acetylcholine. Both are formed from specific essential nutrients that your body can't make. You must obtain them from your diet.

Learning is stored as memory mainly through modification of synapes. The particular pattern of synaptic discharges, called up by learning new information, sensitizes the neurons involved to trigger that pattern more easily on subsequent occasions. When the pattern recurs, memory of what was learned recurs also.

A new important discovery is that the amount of neurotransmitter present at the synapse, determines wether or not memory storage takes place. If the amount of neurotransmitter is reduced, memory storage is disrupted. We look at serotonin first.

The results of animal experiments at the Center for Neurobiology at the Columbia University show that memory storage can be increased by intoducing additional serotonin into the neuron. The same is true for humans, additional serotonin improve memory storage.

You can improve your memory if you sleep immediately after studying. Sleeping cuts off all further input and thus prevents interfering material from blocking storage of the learning. Now we know that the neurotransmitters are more important. Serotonin is released in large quantities into the brain as you fall asleep. It is the additional serotonin that improves memory storage.

The drug zimelidine also increase brain serotonin and imroves memory. Serotonin is formed in brain neurons from the essential animo acid l-tryptophan. The rate of serotonin formation depends on the amount of l-tryptophan that is available to the brain from the blood.

To raise your blood tryptophan you can eat proteins that contain tryptophan or you can take a pure tryptophan supplement. People in European countries have free access to this essential amino acid.

Because of the blood/brain barrier however,only an l-tryptophan supplement will raise brain tryptophan without difficulty. Transport of amino acids accross the blood/brain barrier is limited. Trytophan is one of the class of large neutral amino acids (LNAAs), that rely on a specific transporter molecule.

If you eat protein food at the same time as l-tryptophan, the other LNAAs in the food, isoleucine,leucine, valine, tyrosine and phenylalanine all compete with tryptophan for transport, as a result, only a fraction get through.

You can solve this problem by "neutrolizing" the other LNAAs in the blood by eating high carbohydrate food with the protein, like whole-grain bread or rice cakes. Carbohydrates lowers blood levels of all the LNAAs, except tryptophan, thereby permitting it to enter the brain preferably and so raise serotonin levels.Your memory will undoubtedly benefit from it.

The production of brain acetylcholine reduces when we grow older. However, memory improvement is achieved with the drug arecholine, which stimulates acetylcholine function. Brain acetylcholide is made from choline and pantothenic acid in your diet.

Memory improvement by taking choline can only be achieved when taken with pantothenic acid as well. Especially older people are lacking the essential nutrients, like folic acid, vitamin B12 and thiamin in their diet. Any strategy to maintain or improve memory must be based on complete neutrition. It is useless to supply your brain with acetylchloline if the neurons, whose function it is supposed to improve, are already dead. People with early memory loss still retain functional neurons on which the choline can act. It is best to start early with choline supplements before degeneration starts.

Another factor to be taken into consideration is that when choline is taken it will only increase acetylcholine synthesis in the brain if the brain is stimulated, for example by studying. Also exercising the brain seems to be necessary to maintain your memory level.

Memory improvement doesn't happen overnight.. In most cases any improvement can only be experienced after several months, as it requires new growth of dendrites and axons and even growth of whole new neurons.

Science today has shown that it is possible to grow new brain cells. Dr Fernando Nottebohm has made this remarkable discovery from animal studies, when after given brainstimulating drugs and intense mental stimulation, grow new brain cells and connections in adulthood. Nottebohm believes it is also true for humans.

This new evidence proves that anyone can improve their brain, but it doesn't happen overnight. It can take up to ten months and six years for acetylcholine increasement.

In an attempt to increase brain acetylcholine with lecithin intake, you must take into account that lecithin bought in health food markets contains only small amounts of lecithin. Only phosphatidyl choline supplements of about 20 mg will work.

The latest discovery shows that acetyl-l-carnitine maintains brain function partly by antioxidant action.It improves memory, prevents brain cell loss, boosts intelligence and restores acetylcoline metabolism.

It is used in numerous doses of 1000-2000 mg per day throughout Europe for treatment of Alzheimers, depression and memory loss in the aged and for improvement by younger people.

By: Adrian Joele

Foods diet for good a Good Pregnancy

2009-12-23T17:40:00.002+07:00

A good pregnancy diet will involve the consumption of all of the necessary nutrients in the right order to give the growing fetus the best chance of developing normally and to full term. These nutrients consist of proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, fatty acids and folate. These elements, sourced from healthy wholesome foods, along with plenty of fluids and excercise, have the following benefits.

Increased chance of normal fetal growth and development, and healthy uterine functions, placenta and amniotic fluid.

Assists in maintaining hormonal balance and helps in dampening mood swings, depression and other behavioural concerns relating to pregnancy.

Minimises possibilities of neural tube defect (spina-bifida), low birth weight, miscarriage and poor fetal development.

A woman's body increases in size by 40 - 60% during pregnancy. This is to be expected and is nothing to be concerned about. This is evidence of a growing healthy fetus. Some mother's are overweight when they conceive and decide that they should go on a diet immediately. This is not advisable. Remember your baby is your priority now. Going on a diet will mean that your little one will not be getting the nutrients he or she needs. On the other hand some mother's may feel they are underweight upon conceiving. This can be a concern and it is something to discuss with your doctor, as your diet may need to improve as you will be eating for two people now. Finally, it is always better to eat 5 - 6 small meals during the day, as opposed to 3 large meals. This ensures that your little one is getting a steady flow of the correct nutrients at all times. This is also better for the mother as pregnancy progresses as she will find that a large meal will leave her tired and listless.

The most important element for the pregnant mother is folic acid, also known as folate when sourced directly from food. If you are planning on getting pregnant, it's good to start taking this element a few months prior to getting pregnant. It can be sourced from dark green leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, chickpeas, lentils, oranges and strawberries. These foods should be on the top of your list of foods to eat when pregnant as they are essential for the baby's brain and spinal cord development. The fetal spinal cord is formed within the first 4 weeks of pregnancy, hence the importance of taking it prior to conceiving. Lack of folic acid can lead to spina-bifida and brain damage.

Omega 3 fatty-acid is another essential element, and is sourced from fish such as salmon, trout, pollack, cod and canned light tuna, as well as cod liver oil. Avoid certain large fish like king mackerel, swordfish, marlin and shark, as these fish can contain high levels of mercury that can be detrimental to the development of the fetal nervous system. Omega 3 is important for fetal brain, visual and neural development.

The importance of a good understanding of the foods to eat when pregnant and a proper pregnancy diet cannot be over-stated. For the benefit of your own health and your baby's life, take the time to learn the facts.

3 Brain-boosting Secrets To Enhance Your Mental Abilities

2009-12-23T17:33:00.002+07:00

the brain is the mastermind of your body.If you want to know how to increase brain power, then youve come to the right place.

1.Do Not Overstress.

Too much stress can literally cause brain damage. If you really want to increase your brain power and keep your brain healthy at the same time, I advise you to avoid getting yourself in a succession of stressful situations.

If your job is naturally stressful, then take a few breaks in between projects. Spend the weekend at home, relaxing in bed. Or if thats too indulgent, take two hours off and get yourself a nice, relaxing massage.

It is easy enough to learn how to increase brain power. The challenge, of course, lies in keeping the habits up, even after a week has gone by. But if you put your mind to it, Im sure there is nothing you cant handle. Your brain is very powerful. Dont let its potential go to waste. Eat healthy, exercise your mind, and find time for rest and relaxation.

2. Exercise Your Brain.

Your brain also needs to work out! Instead of being a couch potato and letting the television do all the thinking for you, why dont you solve a crossword puzzle once in a while? Engage in a Sudoku match or play a strategic game of chess to increase brain power.

These activities get your mental faculties thinking, which in turn, improves the way it operates. Think of your brain as a car. Unless you take it out the garage once in a while, its parts will start rusting and will eventually become unreliable.

3. Consume Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba is the national tree of China. But its main contribution to your brain power is in its leaves. The leaves have been known to improve memory and induce mental alertness in healthy individuals. It encourages more blood flow to your brain and also helps in reducing mental fatigue.

However, keep in mind that Gingko Biloba should be used with caution. If you have a blood clotting problem, are pregnant or taking anti-depressant drugs, find another alternative to increase your brain power.

Snoring due sleep apnea may impair brain function

2009-12-23T13:16:00.000+07:00

Sufferers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) experience similar changes in brain biochemistry as people who have had a severe stroke or who are dying, the research shows.

OSA is caused by obstruction of the airway, a disorder characterised by pauses in breathing during sleep.

A study by University of New South Wales (UNSW) Brain Sciences is the first to analyse, in a second-by-second timeframe, what is happening in the brains of sufferers as they sleep.

Previous studies have focussed on recreating oxygen impairment in patients who are awake.

“It used to be thought that apnoeic snoring had absolutely no acute effects on brain function but this is plainly not true,” said study co-author Caroline Rae, professor at Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute.

Sleep apnea affects as many as one in four middle-aged men, with around three percent going on to experience a severe form of the condition characterised by extended pauses in breathing, repetitive asphyxia and sleep fragmentation.

Children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids are also affected, raising concerns of long-term cognitive damage.

Rae and collaborators from Sydney University’s Woolcock Institute used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the brains of 13 men with severe, untreated, obstructive sleep apnea, said a UNSW release.

They found that even a moderate degree of oxygen desaturation during the patients’ sleep had significant effects on the brain’s bioenergetic status.

“The findings show that lack of oxygen while asleep may be far more detrimental than when awake, possibly because the normal compensatory mechanisms don’t work as well when you are asleep,” said Rae.

These findings were published in the May edition of Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.

Brain Damage Symptoms And Treatment

2009-12-23T13:03:00.000+07:00

how many people who have suffered a stroke.yes,it can damage your brain.

A stroke is the damage to a part of the brain when its blood supply is suddenly cut off. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. The result is abnormal brain function.

Blood flow to the brain can be disrupted by either a blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. Adults over the age of 40 are most likely to have strokes. Younger adults and kids can also have them. People of all races are at risk for stroke. African-Americans are almost twice as likely to die from a stroke as whites. African-Americans often have more damage.

Some stroke risk factors are hereditary. Others are a function of natural processes. Still others result from a person’s lifestyle. A risk factor is a condition or behavior that occurs more frequently in those who have, or are at greater risk of getting, a disease than in those who don’t. Having a risk factor for stroke doesn’t mean you’ll have a stroke. Cigarette smoking has been linked to the buildup of fatty substances in the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain. Blockage of this artery is the leading cause of stroke in Americans. Also, nicotine raises blood pressure; carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to the brain; and cigarette smoke makes your blood thicker and more likely to clot.

There are five uncontrollable risk factors:

* Age – your chances of having a stroke go up as you get older. Two-thirds of all strokes happen to people over age 65. Your stroke risk doubles with each decade past age 55.
* Sex – males have a slightly higher risk than females.
* Race – American blacks have a higher stroke risk than most other racial groups.
* Family history of diabetes.
* Family history of stroke.

Symptoms vary depending on whether the stroke is caused by a clot or bleeding. The location of the blood clot or bleeding and the extent of brain damage can also affect symptoms. Different people may have different symptoms and signs of heat stroke. But common symptoms and signs of heart stroke include:

* high body temperature
* the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin
* rapid pulse
* difficulty breathing
* strange behavior
* hallucinations
* confusion
* agitation
* disorientation
* seizure
* coma

Treatment

Treatment depends on whether the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic and on the underlying cause of the condition. The long-term goals of treatment include rehabilitation and prevention of additional strokes. Stroke is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment of a stroke could mean the difference between life and death. Early treatment can also minimize damage to your brain and potential disability.

Your surgeon makes an incision in your neck to expose your carotid artery. The artery is opened, the plaques are removed, and your surgeon closes the artery. In people with marked blockages in the carotid artery who are candidates for the surgery, the procedure may reduce the risk of ischemic stroke.

10 bad HABITS CAN DAMAGE your BRAIN

2009-12-23T12:59:00.000+07:00

Brain is responsible for functions such as recognition, emotion. memory, motor learning, and all other forms of learning,which is the controlling center of the central nervous system.

Brain organize and coordinated most of the movement, behavior and homeostatic body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, body fluid balance and body temperature.

notes for these 10 events could damage our brains work

1. Do not want breakfast

Those who do not consume breakfast have blood sugar levels low, the effect of which supply nutrients to the brain becomes less.

2. Too much to eat

Too much to eat, let alone a high fat content, can result in hardening of the brain blood vessels due to accumulation of fat in the blood vessel wall. As a result of work ability of the brain will decrease.

3. SMOKING

Substances found in cigarettes are inhaled will cause rapid shrinkage of the brain, and can cause Alzheimer's disease.

4. Consume too much sugar

Consumption of sugar which will cause too much disruption of the absorption of protein and nutrients, causing nutritional imbalances that would interfere with brain development

5. Air pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in the human body. Inhaling polluted air reducing oxygen supply to the brain that can decrease the efficiency of the brain.

6. Sleep deprivation

The brain needs sleep as a time to rest and restore capabilities. Lack of sleep in the long term will accelerate damage brain cells.

7. Covering the head when he sleeps

The habit of sleeping with closed head increase the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that can cause brain damage effects.

8. Thinking too hard when you're sick

Working too hard or forced to use when she was sick pikirankita can cause reduced effectiveness of the brain and can damage the brain.

9. Lack of stimulation of the brain

Thinking is the best way to train our brain. Lack of stimulation in the brain can cause brain mengkerutnya.

10. Rarely spoke

Communication is needed as one means of encouraging working ability of the brain. Communicate intellectually can trigger brain efficiency. Rare ability to communicate will cause the brain to be less intellectually trained.