Millions of people are affected by neurological disorders, and what’s surprising is that a majority of them are unaware of their ongoing conditions. Neurological disorders in medical terminology indicate diseases related to the brain and spine, and the nerves connecting them. These disorders can create biochemical, electrical, and structural abnormalities in the body, resulting in a range of symptoms.
Neurological disorders can be the result of genetic issues, lifestyle and environmental changes, malnutrition, infections, and injuries to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the symptoms associated with such disorders, and in acute cases, when such conditions might require the assistance of emergency room services.
This post will explain various neurological disorders that require a trip to the emergency room.
Common Neurological Disorders Considered a Medical Emergency
Stroke
Stroke is a medical condition that can result in disability or death. Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, strokes are the fifth most common cause of death in the United States.
Strokes are an acute vascular event in the brain. They mainly occur when blood supply to the brain is blocked, preventing the tissues from receiving oxygen and nutrients. Sometimes, the blood vessels in the brain also rupture and begin to bleed. This disease is not age-specific, though strokes are often related to other health problems like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, etc.
A stroke can manifest itself in various symptoms that are addressed below:
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Trouble walking
- Numbness in arms, legs, face, or one side of the body
- Memory issues
These symptoms call for urgent medical evaluation and treatment in an emergency department.
Fainting
Fainting is another common neurological problem resulting in loss of consciousness. In medical terms, it is referred to as syncope, a phase of unconsciousness associated with a sudden decline of blood flow to the brain. Often, fainting is a common occurrence associated with different neurological emergencies.
Sometimes a short-term malfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) can develop conditions like neurocardiogenic syncope. It controls several functions like respiration rate, heart rate, and digestion. Other neurological illnesses linked with fainting are Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.
These are some of the symptoms and conditions associated with fainting that require immediate medical attention:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Lack of bowel or bladder control
- Difficulty with vision, speech, and hearing
- Inability to move the body parts
- Confusion
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Not regaining consciousness
Sudden and Severe Headaches
It’s pretty common to experience headaches, and mostly we don’t treat them seriously. However, some types of headaches can be the root cause of common neurological disorders. There are different types of headaches: migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches, as well as headaches caused by meningitis or a brain hemorrhage.
If you are experiencing the sudden onset of a severe headache, the situation can be alarming. It would be wise to seek help from emergency room services if the condition continues for a long time or occurs frequently. Do not neglect your symptoms.
Some of the causes of recurring headaches are:
- High blood pressure
- Tumors and cancers
- Temporal arteritis (inflammation of blood vessels in and around the scalp)
- Infections in the brain
Seizures
It’s a bit shocking to learn that one out of every 100 Americans is affected by neurological disorders like seizures. This condition alters the electrical activity in the brain and can cause everything from loss of consciousness to staring blankly to muscle jerks or spasticity.
The most common symptoms detected in seizure patients are:
- Abnormal body stiffening
- Uncontrollable jerking of arms and legs
- Cognitive conditions like fear, anxiety, or deja vu
- Loss of consciousness
- Temporary confusion
There are other health issues that can cause seizures: epilepsy, fever, insomnia, alcohol and drug abuse, head trauma, etc. It’s important to consult with a neurologist to discuss more permanent complications like memory loss or brain damage.
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an unusual neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles of the body responsible for movement. Thankfully, the condition is rare, but statistics show that between 14 and 20 out of every 100,000 people are affected in the U.S. This disease causes impairment in the ability of the nerves and muscles cells to communicate.
The underlying symptoms associated with myasthenia gravis can get worse with activity and improve with rest. Among the symptoms are:
- Trouble talking
- Facial paralysis
- Trouble swallowing
- Breathing difficulties
- Double vision
- Walking problems
There are an array of conditions that qualify for neurological care in emergency rooms. Not knowing the right place to go to receive this kind care can be fatal. However, if you are a resident of Texas, you can quickly find neurological care at Frisco ER, which has the best emergency health care services in the area.
In an Emergency, Rely on the Best!
Neurological disorders can be very complicated. Frisco ER’s neurological care services will take care of you, so make sure you get timely medical treatment if you think you have a critical neurological disease.
Make the right decision to save a life!
