MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

If you feel fine for weeks or months but your

multiple sclerosis symptoms pop up again, you
probably have what doctors call a relapse or
flare-up. There are a lot of ways to treat or
prevent them.

What Causes Flare-Ups?

Flare-ups happen when inflammation in your
nervous system damages the layer that covers
and protects nerve cells. This slows or stops
nerve cell signals from getting to the parts of
your body where they need to go.
During a flare-up you'll get new symptoms or
the ones you already have will get worse.
You might have one or more of these
problems:
Balance problems ,Blurred vision or blindness
in one eye, Dizziness,Numbness,Pain, Pins-and-
needles feeling, Tiredness,Weakness
To prevent flare-ups:
Take your medicines. The drugs your doctor
prescribes slow your MS from getting worse
and help prevent relapses. If you have side
effects, don't just stop taking them. Ask your
doctor about other options.
Keep up your health. A bout of cold or flu can
set off your MS symptoms. A bladder infection
can trigger a flare-up, too. Wash your hands
with warm water and soap during the day, get
your yearly flu shot, and avoid people who
look sick. Stay hydrated. Ask your doctor for
other ways to avoid bladder infections.
If you smoke, quit. It's bad for you in so many
ways, and it can make your MS symptoms
worse. Talk to you doctor about ways to break
the habit.
Relax. In some people, stress can bring on a
relapse. Chill out with meditation, yoga, or
anything else that's good for you and helps
you unwind.
Rest. You won't feel well when you're worn out.
Sleep problems are common in people with
MS. Symptoms like pain and muscle spasms
can keep you up at night. Some of the
medicines that treat MS interrupt sleep, too.
Work with your doctor to get your symptoms
under control so you can sleep. Adjust your
medicines if they keep you awake.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form
of dementia. The frequency of Alzheimer's
disease is increasing as the New Zealand
population ages. It has been estimated that
the number of New Zealanders living with
Alzheimer's disease will reach 70,000 by 2031
(from 28,000 in 2006).
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, nor
any proven ways to prevent its onset.
Treatment focuses on support and managing
symptoms to maximize a person's ability to
function and maintain independence for as
long as possible. The condition is ultimately
fatal.
.
Causes
In Alzheimer’s disease, brain cells start to
deteriorate. The body attempts to stop this
process by producing a protein called amyloid.
However, amyloid deposits build up in the
brain, leading to further deterioration. These
deposits of amyloid are referred to as
"plaques" and cause the brain cells to shrivel
up and form "tangles", which in turn lead to
changes in the brain structure and cause the
brain cells to die. The formation of plaques and
tangles also prevents the production of some
important brain chemicals, called
neurotransmitters (eg: acetylcholine, which is
important in memory function). Over time the
loss of brain cells causes the brain to shrink.

Genetic factors, such as the presence of, or

changes to, certain genes
Environmental factors, such as long-term
exposure to some environmental solvents (eg:
pesticides, glues and paints) or infection with
certain viruses or bacteria
Lifestyle factors, such as a lack of exercise,
poor-quality sleep and a diet lacking fruit and
vegetables.
Researchers now believe that a combination of
these lifestyle, environmental and genetic risk
factors trigger an abnormal biological process
in the brain that, over decades, results in
Alzheimer-type dementia. Identified risk
factors for developing the condition include:
ncreasing age
Down syndrome
History of a head injury
Risk factors for blood vessel disease such as
smoking
Signs and symptoms
The degenerative changes that occur with
Alzheimer's disease affect the areas of the
brain that control thought, memory and
language resulting in gradual signs and
symptoms related to a person’s behaviour and
mental function. Often, physical functions such
as bowel and bladder control are also affected.
Symptoms commonly experienced during the
early stages of Alzheimer's disease include:
Mild forgetfulness – especially short-term
memory loss
Mood changes, including irritability and
anxiety
Difficulty processing new information and
learning new things
Loss of spontaneity and initiative
Confusion about time and place
Communication difficulties
Difficulty recognising family and friends
Shorter attention span and feelings of
restlessness
Difficulty with reading, writing and numbers
Possibly neglectful of hygiene
Loss of appetite
Personality changes (eg: aggression, significant
mood swings)
Requires increasing assistance with daily tasks.
Treatment
As there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s
disease, treatment focuses on managing
symptoms and supporting the person and their
family. This may include:
Treating medical conditions that may
contribute to confusion or physical decline eg:
lung disease or anaemia
Encouraging stimulating activities in order to
encourage the person to continue their normal
activities as much as possible
Providing memory aids and memory triggers
such as calendars and written reminders
Encouraging social interaction to help prevent
feelings of loneliness and depression
Contacting support groups that may be able to
offer family/caregivers assistance
Encouraging regular routine to reduce
confusion
Not smoking.

STROKE
A stroke occurs when the supply of blood to
the brain is either interrupted or reduced.
When this happens, the brain does not get
enough oxygen or nutrients, and brain cells
start to die.
According to the American Heart Association
(AHA), compared with Caucasian people,
African-Americans have nearly twice the risk of
a first-time stroke and a much higher risk of
death from stroke.
Symptoms
The acronym F.A.S.T. is a way to remember the
signs of stroke, and can help identify the onset
of stroke:
Face drooping: If the person tries to smile, does
one side of the face droop?
Arm weakness: If the person tries to raise both
their arms, does one arm drift downward?
Speech difficulty: If the person tries to repeat a
simple phrase, is their speech slurred or
strange?
Time to call 911: If any of these signs are
observed, contact the emergency services.
The faster a person with suspected stroke
receives medical attention, the better their
prognosis will be, and the less likely they will
be to experience permanent damage or death.

Prevention
The best way to prevent a stroke is to address
the underlying causes. This is best achieved
through lifestyle changes, including:
eating a healthy diet
maintaining a healthy weight
exercising regularly
not smoking tobacco
avoiding alcohol or drinking moderately
Eating a nutritious diet means including plenty
of fruits, vegetables, and healthy whole grains,
nuts, seeds, and legumes. keeping blood
pressure under control
managing diabetes
As well as these lifestyle changes, a doctor can
help to reduce the risk of future ischemic
strokes through prescribing anticoagulant or
antiplatelet medication.
Treatment
Medications delivered directly to the brain.
Doctors may insert a long, thin tube (catheter)
through an artery in your groin and thread it to
your brain to deliver tPA directly into the area
where the stroke is occurring. This is called
intra-arterial thrombolysis. The time window
for this treatment is somewhat longer than for
intravenous tPA, but is still limited.
Removing the clot with a stent retriever.
Doctors may use a catheter to maneuver a
device into the blocked blood vessel in your
brain and trap and remove the clot. This
procedure is particularly beneficial for people
with large clots that can't be completely
dissolved with tPA, though this procedure is
often performed in combination with
intravenous tPA.
Carotid endarterectomy. In a carotid
endarterectomy, a surgeon removes plaques
from arteries that run along each side of your
neck to your brain (carotid arteries). In this
procedure, your surgeon makes an incision
along the front of your neck, opens your
carotid artery and removes plaque that blocks
the carotid artery.
Angioplasty and stents. In an angioplasty, a
surgeon usually accesses your carotid arteries
through an artery in your groin.
EPILEPSY
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that causes
unprovoked, recurrent seizures. A seizure is a
sudden rush of electrical activity in the brain.

There are two main types of seizures.

Generalized seizures affect the whole brain.
Focal, or partial seizures, affect just one part of
the brain.
A mild seizure may be difficult to recognize. It
can last a few seconds during which you lack
awareness.
Stronger seizures can cause spasms and
uncontrollable muscle twitches, and can last a
few seconds to several minutes. During a
stronger seizure, some people become
confused or lose consciousness. Afterward you
may have no memory of it happening.

symptoms of epilepsy
Focal (partial) seizures
A simple partial seizure doesn’t involve loss of
consciousness. Symptoms include:
alterations to sense of taste, smell, sight,
hearing, or touch
dizziness
tingling and twitching of limbs
unresponsiveness

Possible causes include:

traumatic brain injury
scarring on the brain after a brain injury (post-
traumatic epilepsy)
serious illness or very high fever
stroke, which is a leading cause of epilepsy in
people over age 35
other vascular diseases
lack of oxygen to the brain
genetic or developmental disorders or
neurological diseases

How is epilepsy treated?

Most people can manage epilepsy. Your
treatment plan will be based on severity of
symptoms, your health, and how well you
respond to therapy.
Anti-epileptic (anticonvulsant, antiseizure)
drugs: These medications can reduce the
number of seizures you have. In some people,
they eliminate seizures. To be effective, the
medication must be taken exactly as
prescribed.
Brain surgery: The area of the brain that causes
seizure activity can be removed or altered.