The neurological disorders discussed last week concentrated on four causes for nervous system abnormalities: developmental, disease, injury, or toxin. This week several illnesses will be touched on that have a common theme: they all affect one part of the body. Two are probably familiar, two could be new to your knowledge. All involve the nervous system.
Meniere's Disease:
This abnormality is highlighted by a sporadic but progressive loss of hearing in one or both ears. It is an inner ear disorder, but at the same time it is neurological because fluid in the ear, endolymph, signals nerve receptors to alert the brain about the body's movement. This fluid can increase, rupture, and mix with another ear fluid, perilymph, and the contamination causes the disorder. The exact reason why the perilymph increases and ruptures from its membrane is idiopathic, or unknown.
Symptoms of the disorder include vertigo or dizziness, vomiting, a "fullness" in the affected ear, ringing ear (tinnitus), and hearing loss. Because it is progressive, attacks come and go and can sometimes cause total loss of hearing in one or both ears. Most cases involve one ear. There are some surgical procedures and dietary changes that can help this disease, although not always.
Sleep Apnea:
This disorder involves both a problem with soft tissue collapse in the throat and the brain not signaling muscles to breath. The first problem is obstructive sleep apnea and the second is central sleep apnea. Most people with the disorder suffer from a combination of both.
Symptoms include restless sleep, snoring, gasping during sleep, and daytime exhaustion. Treatments can include weight loss and haulting alcohol consumption or any other substance that depresses the central nervous system. A more serious treatment includes "continuous positive airway pressure" which involves a face mask that pumps continuous air to keep the throat open. Finally, surgery can be performed to widen the airway.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
CTS occurs when the median nerve, running from the forearm into the hand, is compressed at the wrist. This "squeezing" of the nerve can be congenital due to a person's bodily makeup, or developed during repetitive wrist movements such as typing or assembly line work. Other cases have no known cause.
Symptoms of this syndrome include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness traveling from the hands and wrists up the arms. These problems can be treated with rest, splinting affected wrists, and avoiding activities which worsen the condition. Pain medications, steroids, ice packs, and lidocaine can help. Sometimes surgery is necessary.
Dysphagia:
This is a swallowing disorder that can be caused by degenerative neurological disorders such as Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or myasthenia gravis. Neurological injuries such as stroke, head, or spinal trauma can also cause this. Treatments include Botox injections or surgery, and modifications in feeding and diet can help. In severe cases a feeding tube may be inserted.
***For more neurological information, check out the Neurological ARTICLE INDEX and Blog.
********************************************************************************************************
