Brain and Nervous System – Page 3

When would your doctor decide to put you in a coma?

December 8th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

If you’ve seen any soap opera, you’d know that coma’s are a popular device in television to create a sense of drama. In real life, though, a coma can also be a necessary tool to save your life, and not everyone in a coma is unconscious because of a condition or disease: sometimes doctors need to induce a coma to save your life.

What is a coma?

Being put into a coma isn’t a standard medical procedure. Doctors only turn to a medically induced coma when all other options have been exhausted – because your brain has responded to trauma by completely shutting down. Think of a car engine that’s packed in. According to research, the body doesn’t necessarily decide to enter a coma. A coma is a deep shutdown of your brain function.

A medically induced coma gives your brain the rest that it needs for it to recover and heal. When doctors put you into a medically induced coma, you will be given a controlled dose of an anaesthetic, to lull you into a temporary but deep state of unconsciousness. All this happens while machines maintain your blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, and breathing.

A coma allows your brain to rest and not exert itself more than it needs. Too much activity could speed up brain damage.

When is this necessary?

Your doctor will put you under a medically induced coma if you’re at high risk of severe brain injury, meningitis (a life-threatening infection) a drug overdose, seizures or brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen for too long. Think of your brain being in hibernation at this point. When the brain is injured it swells. The inflammation can cause it to push up against the skull and increase pressure. Blood flow and oxygen to the brain can be cut off as a result of too much pressure.

Medically induced coma or sedation?

According to the American Academy of Anaesthesiologists, a medically induced coma puts you into a very deep unconscious state. Sedation puts you in a semi-conscious state.

Sedation is done to allow you to be comfortable during a surgical or medical procedure. It’s administered through an intravenous catheter (IV) (medication sent directly into your vein using a needle or tube) with minimal side- effects.

A medically induced coma is only managed in intensive care units, while sedation can be done in your doctors’ or dentists’ offices too.

If you have very severe brain injuries, you may move from coma into a vegetative or minimally conscious state. After a few days or weeks in a coma you may “wake up” in the sense that your eyes will open. If you’ve only been in a coma for a few days you may wake up to full consciousness with relatively little damage.

References:

Guillain-Barré syndrome – the peculiar disease that can affect anyone

December 8th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

This rare, yet serious syndrome is an autoimmune condition which attacks the body’s nervous system. Although you can be treated, the disease can be life-threatening if not managed in time.

What causes Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Guillain-Barré syndrome is thought to be caused by a problem with the body’s immune system. A healthy immune system attacks bacteria and viruses entering the body – but in this case, the immune system mistakes the nerves for “foreign objects”, attacking them too.

This causes problems with the messages between the brain and nerves, and results in numbness and muscle weakness.

A few other triggers for Guillain-Barré syndrome include:

infection like food poisoning or the flu
a vaccination like the flu shot,
surgery or a medical procedure.

It is is not contagious.

Who gets it?

This syndrome can affect anyone. There’s no specific age group or gender and males and females are equally likely to suffer from the syndrome. It’s a very rare condition, affecting one in every 100 000 people.

Symptoms include:

A tingling sensation or weakness in the legs, hands or feet, which may spread to other parts.
Numbness.
Pain.
Difficulty with balance and coordination.
Loss of control over muscles.
Loss of control over speech.
Paralysis of the legs, arms, and/or face.
Difficulty breathing.
Double vision.

Treatment

Although there is no definite cure, these treatments are known to help relieve symptoms:

Plasma exchange where the liquid (plasma) is removed from your blood and separated from the cells. Your blood cells are placed back into your body, and more plasma is manufactured. This process gets rid of the antibodies which might trigger an attack on the nerves.
Immunoglobin therapy where a mixture of antibodies is injected to help the immune system attack the antibodies that triggers the disease.
Painkillers to help relieve pain.
Medication and compression socks if you’re prone to blood clots.

Time for the doctor?

Go to your doctor immediately if you notice some of the earliest symptoms of Guillain-Barré. Although the numbness and weakness might be caused by something else, it’s important to rule out the syndrome first.

Can I recover?

Most people often recover fully, but symptoms can last for months or years. Unfortunately, not all people recover completely from the symptoms and can be left with permanent problems like an inability to walk without assistance, a permanent weakness in the limbs or face and speech problems.

Have more questions about this rare condition? Ask our doctors! They’re here to help.

References:

Foods that keep your mind sharp

November 9th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your brain is a powerful organic machine that constantly operates at a super-high speed. In one way, it works a bit like a scanner: receiving millions of signals from your body every millisecond, your brain needs to filter and manage every signal that comes in, to control movement, thoughts, sensations, bodily functions and social interactions. All of this while calculating and reacting to subconscious stimulus and keeping you alive every second of the day.

Phew! To keep this complex machine running at its best, your brain needs fuel – and not just any fuel: certain foods pack a brain-boosting punch, so make sure to pack them in your next lunchbox:

Wholegrains: Get energised from “brown” low-GI wholegrains that can give you a boost to keep you mentally steady. Glucose is released into your bloodstream and then into your brain.
Nuts: Walnuts specifically sit high on the nut food chain as a mental booster. Nuts are loaded with high Omega-3 fatty acids that support cognitive function to help you concentrate. Nuts rich in zinc and Vitamin B6 promote concentration too. This allows your brain to produce dopamine, to allow brain cell communication.
Broccoli: High in Vitamin K, this green brain friend enhances brainpower and has compounds that the central nervous system needs to perform properly and keep your memory and brain sharp.
Beetroot: The compounds found in beet boost blood flow to the brain that helps with mental performance.
Blueberries: These vitamin-rich berries can protect your brain from oxidative stress (an imbalance between the production of free radicals and your body’s ability to fight them off). Blueberries have the necessary antioxidants to stimulate blood flow and oxygen to your brain.
Fish: Your body can’t make essential fatty acids, which means you must get them from your diet. Effective Omega-3 fats that help with brain function have good levels of fatty acids that can help you manage stress and make that good mood brain chemical, serotonin.
Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc which plays an essential part in enhancing memory and Also packed with magnesium which has a calming effect on the brain.
Tomatoes: Packed with powerful antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene that can protect your brain from free radical damage.
Banana: These curvy fruits are great “mood food”. Bananas have excellent vitamins, minerals and amino acids to improve brain function. Getting enough amino acids may help you stay calm and focused.
Avocado: Contains good fats that contribute to healthy blood flow, which is vital for the function of the brain. Eat in moderation as they’re high in calories, though.

Prevent mental decline

Your brain has approximately 100 billion neurons which communicate with each other via your brain chemicals; neurotransmitters. Critical vitamins for brain health are Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B9, Vitamins C, D, E, and magnesium; all of which can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

References:

What is Motor Neurone Disease (MND) ?

October 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Motor neurone disease (MND) makes up a group of severe disorders of the nervous system, and it occurs when motor neurons progressively lose their function. Motor neurones are specialised nerve cells that help regulate many of the body’s automatic processes, such as breathing and swallowing – they also send signals from the brain to the muscles and bones, enabling you to move them. On 3 November 2014, former Springbok player Tinus Linee died from the disorder, and In February 2017, South African Springbok, Joost van der Westerhuizen passed away after a long struggle with the disease.

Approximately 5% of people with motor neuron disease have a close family relation who also has the condition, or the related condition fronto-temporal dementia. This is called familial motor neuron disease and is more closely linked to a problem with genes.

More usually, a person with motor neurone disease does not have a family history of the condition, and this is known as sporadic motor neurone disease. According to researchers, the cause is probably a combination of genetic and environmental factors that build up throughout life.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of motor neurone disease usually develop slowly and subtly over time. It can be easy to mistake early symptoms for those of several unrelated conditions that affect the nervous system. Breathing difficulties usually develop gradually, but they can also occur suddenly. Sometimes, they may even be the first sign of motor neuron disease.

There are three categories of motor neuron disease

Limb-onset disease
Respiratory-onset disease
Bulbar-onset disease

Physical effects of motor neurone disease (MND) can include:

Muscle weakness or wasting – in the hands or feet
Difficulty swallowing
Slurred speech
Muscle twitching
Cramps
Fatigue
Weight loss

Diagnosis

Motor neurone disease is called a clinical diagnosis. This means it is most often made by a specialist on the basis of a physical examination and the symptoms. While there is no single way to check for motor neurone disease, various tests may be used to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.

Treatment

There is no cure for motor neurone disease, but treatment can help slow the progression of the disease and relieve symptoms. If you have pain due to motor neuron disease, the type of painkiller recommended to control symptoms will depend on how severe your pain is. Mild to moderate pain can often be controlled using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. More severe pain can be treated using an opiate-based painkiller, such as morphine.

Other symptoms

As motor neuron disease progresses, swallowing problems, called dysphagia, may become so severe that you won’t be able to eat and drink normally. One widely used treatment for dysphagia is a feeding tube known as a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. PEG tubes are designed for long-term use and last for up to six months before they need replacing. The tube is surgically implanted into your stomach through a small incision on the surface of the stomach.

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

October 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a mysterious disease that affects nerves in the spinal cord and brain, resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, and sensation. It’s considered an autoimmune condition, which means something goes wrong with the immune system and it mistakenly attacks healthy body tissue. With MS, the myelin (which is the layer of protein that surrounds each nerve fibre in the brain and spinal cord) becomes damaged.

What are the main symptoms of MS?

Damage to the myelin disrupts the transfer of nerve signals in the brain and spinal cord, and this causes symptoms such as:

muscle stiffness – which can lead to uncontrolled muscle movements
loss of vision – usually only in one eye
difficulties with balance and co-ordination
fatigue
eye pain

Doctors don’t know what causes the immune system to act in this way, but most experts believe it’s a combination of genetic and environmental factors at play.

How is MS diagnosed?

There is no single test to diagnose MS, but there are specific criteria in place to help reach a conclusion. Diagnosing the condition is a process, and your doctor should refer you to a neurologist who specialises in treating MS to evaluate your symptoms and rule out any other possible conditions – for example a brain infection, lupus or stroke. Together with a thorough medical history and physical examination, spinal taps, MRI and blood sample analysis often used to accurately diagnose MS.

Are there different types of MS?

Yes – there are three main types of MS: relapsing/remitting MS; secondary progressive MS, and primary progressive MS.

Relapsing/remitting MS: is when the patient has flare-ups of symptoms, known as relapses, which can persist for days or even months. This is followed by periods where symptoms are mild or disappear altogether. This is known as remission, and it can also last for days or months. Nearly half of all people who suffer with relapsing/remitting MS go on to develop secondary progressive MS.

Secondary progressive MS: develops when symptoms gradually get worse over time. Some people may still have relapses, but don’t make a full recovery from symptoms.

Primary progressive MS: This is a very rare form of MS which develops when symptoms gradually get worse over time (as with secondary progressive MS) – however there are no periods of remission.

What treatments are available for MS?

While there is no cure for MS, there are multiple treatments that can help slow the progression of the condition and relieve symptoms.

Relapsing/remitting MS can be treated with medication which reduce the number of relapses a person has. These drugs can also slow the progression of the condition, but they’re not suitable for everyone. If a person is still experiencing relapses, then some of these drugs can also be used to treat secondary progressive MS.

Steroids can be used to help aid recovery from relapses, and physiotherapy is a popular treatment to help ease symptoms.

Who’s at risk of MS?

The condition is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40. And while it can occur at any age, it’s rare for children to get MS. Statistically, more women than men get MS, and the condition is more common in white people than black or Asian people.

MS can be a very challenging condition to live with, however the quality of life for people who are diagnosed with MS has improved a lot over the past 20 years – thanks to new treatments available.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/default.htm?names-dropdown

What exactly is autism?

October 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Autism is the result of a neurological disorder that affects normal brain function, which means that a person who has autism often struggles with normal, everyday communication and social interaction.

Those affected likely share traits with people who suffer from ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or clinical depression.
Autism is a wide-spectrum disorder, and this means that no two people who have it will experience the same symptoms. For some, symptoms are mild, while for others they are severe.

What symptoms or behaviours does autism usually present?

A person will usually stick to a set of behaviours, and are adverse to change – whether it’s major or minor changes that take place
They are often socially clumsy, offensive in what they say and out of sync with everyone else
In severe cases, they might not be interested at all in other people
They often avoid eye contact with others, and might not realise if someone is trying to talk to them
They avoid physical contact with people outside of their trusted, immediate family members, and don’t enjoy being hugged or touched by others
They are sensitive to loud noise, bright lights and strong smells
The more severe the autism is, the more likely they are to have speaking skills – many children with autism don’t speak at all
They thrive in predictable environments, and work well with routine
They often develop repetitive behaviours – for example drawing the same picture over and over again
They learn differently – they might learn faster than others, and have a bigger vocabulary, only to forget things that they’ve learned quickly.

There are a lot of myths about autism, and granted we still have much to learn about the condition. It’s very important to remember, though: no matter how strange someone with autism seems:

They have feelings, just like you and me – they feel love, happiness and sadness.
A large number of people who have autism spectrum disorder have very high IQs, and a unique talent for computer science (testing, programming etc.)

How does it develop?

There are a lot of theories about the causes of autism – one of them being that vaccination could be a trigger. However, there is no evidence for the being true – and you may put your child at risk of developing other serious conditions if they don’t get vaccinated.

Unfortunately, we are still unsure exactly what the causes and triggers are.

What increases the risk of autism/autism spectrum disorder?

The following illnesses and circumstances have been shown to increase the risk of a child being diagnosed with autism before the age of 3.This according to research and studies presented in the Paediatrics journal of November 2012.

Flu during pregnancy doubles autism risk for the child
Persistent fever during pregnancy – if a fever lasts for more than one week it triples the autism risk for the child
Using antibiotics during pregnancy – slightly increases the autism risk for the child

Can autism be treated?

Autism isn’t a condition that your child will “grow out of” – but there are a lot of treatments available – and the first step is finding out as much as you can about the condition, so you can make informed decisions.

The earlier you start treatment the better – this can significantly help with your child’s learning progress, and help reduce symptoms.

Here’s what else you can do as a parent/family unit:

Provide structure and safety at home
Be consistent
Stick to a schedule
Reward good behaviour
Try to figure out what’s causing your child’s tantrums
Make time for run and relaxation with your child
Learn to pick up on your child’s non-verbal cues – facial expressions, hand gestures etc.
Pay attention, and be aware of, their sensitivities: are they under or over sensitive to things like light, sound, smell, touch and taste?
What helps calm them, what do they enjoy, what do they find comfortable or uncomfortable
Look for autism support groups you can turn to
Get more information from local websites such as: http://www.aut2know.co.za/ and http://www.afa.org.za/

What is Myasthenia Gravis?

October 24th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles responsible for breathing; as well as the moving parts of the body, like the arms and the legs. The name “myasthenia gravis” directly translates from Latin to “grave” or “serious muscle weakness”.

This disease is rare and 20 in every 100 000 people suffer from it.

What causes myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is caused by a faulty transmission between the nerves and muscles. The body attacks itself and causes the messages between the nerves and muscle to get blocked, almost like bad cellphone reception. These faulty messages then cause muscle weakness in certain parts of the body. There’s no known cure, but people with MG are able to manage their symptoms quite well with the right treatment.

Who gets myasthenia gravis?

It’s not that there’s a particular risk factor that makes one person more susceptible than the other, but people with a family history of the condition tend to get it more frequently than others. People can get myasthenia gravis at any age, but women between 20 and 40 are more likely to get it, while it’s more common in men older than 60.

Commonly misdiagnosed

Many of those suffering with MG are often misdiagnosed for weeks, months or even years. This often happens because the disease gets worse over time, and symptoms can subside with rest. Symptoms usually have to be severe before doctors consider testing for MG.

Symptoms of MG

A person with MG can be perfectly fine one minute and too weak to talk or breathe a short while later. Symptoms can flare up after prolonged periods of physical activity and can get better with rest. Symptoms include:

Weakness or drooping of the eye or facial muscles
Slurred speech
Difficulty swallowing, breathing or talking
Weakness in the arms or legs
Blurry eyesight

Diagnosing MG

A doctor can diagnose MG with a blood test that checks for abnormal antibodies in the blood; an exam of your nervous system or by testing the electric activity in your muscles.

Treatment

Although MG sounds serious, there are treatments available to manage it. Doctors often suggest:

Medication to improve the transmission between nerve and muscle and to strengthen the muscle.
Surgical removal of the thymus gland; a gland located in the chest. Studies have shown that this gland can make MG worse.
Oxygen treatment to improve breathing.
Removal of antibodies in the blood through a procedure called plasmapherisis.
Blood transfusion.

Managing MG

Being diagnosed with MG is not a death sentence. It can be challenging to live with MG, but the symptoms can be controlled. First, do as much research as possible on the subject. Demystifying the condition will go a long way in making it less scary. It’s worth reaching out to others who have the same condition. A support group can help immensely.

Keep track of your symptoms. Watch for triggers and stop them before it happens. Tell others about your illness, especially if your symptoms influence your work. In this vein, always be prepared for an emergency and make sure your medication goes everywhere you go.

References:

What is Epilepsy?

October 15th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Epilepsy is a disorder of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles), and it causes sudden and recurring episodes of loss of consciousness, convulsions and sensory disturbance. These are all things which are associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Normally, neurones (cells) in your brain communicate with each other using electrical impulses, and these electrical signals travel along the nerves to the rest of your body, giving your muscles “instructions” to move.

Convulsions happen when there is unusual electrical activity in the brain, which causes muscles to tighten and relax rapidly, or stop moving completely. Convulsions always happen suddenly, and there’s no rule or guideline as to when or how often they’ll happen.

How intense a convulsion is will depend on the person. Some people have full seizures, while other’s experience a ‘trance-like’ state for a few seconds or minutes.

What Causes Epilepsy?

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to explain why a person develops epilepsy. There are only clear causes in a small number of cases, and these tend to involve some injury to the brain, such as:

Low oxygen during birth
Head injuries that occur during birth or from accidents
Stroke
Brain tumours
Genetic conditions that result in brain injury
Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis
Abnormal levels of substances in the blood such as sodium or sugar

Diagnosing Epilepsy

If you have a convulsion or seizure, your doctor will likely order certain tests done, such as a CAT scan or MRI to take a closer look at your brain, or an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record your brainwaves. These tests help doctors determine what caused the seizure and if it’s likely to happen again.

Treating Epilepsy

Epilepsy can’t be cured, but anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) can be used to control seizures. It can take time to figure the correct dose and type of AED before seizures can be brought under control. In a few cases, surgical procedures can also help control seizures.

Most people who are diagnosed with epilepsy can control their seizures with medication. And as they get older, many children with epilepsy get better and can stop taking medication. For some children though, it can be difficult to get the seizures under control, and a special diet might be needed.

Living with Epilepsy

Epilepsy differs from person to person, but a healthy lifestyle can make the condition easier to deal with. Focus on a balanced diet and regular exercise, and cut down on alcohol. It’s also important to speak to your doctor about driving or operating machinery if you’re on medication, as it might cause drowsiness. Likewise, if you’re trying to conceive then find out from your doctor if it’s safe to continue taking your particular medication.

Epilepsy Support: http://epilepsy.org.za/new/
Sources: WebMD.com, NHS.uk

Living with epilepsy

February 10th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Epilepsy is often overlooked as it’s not a disease, illness, psychiatric disorder or a mental illness. Instead, it’s a symptom of a neurological disorder, and is typified by unusual electrical activity in your brain. This activity manifests as seizures. Anyone can be affected by epilepsy regardless of gender, age and race.

Triggers

Sleep deprivation.
Poor diet.
Alcohol or drug abuse.
Not taking epilepsy medication.
Flashing lights or bright patterns.
Menstruation and pregnancy in women.

There are different types of seizures and knowing how to recognise them will help you to manage them. The two common types are called primary generalised seizures and partial seizures.

Generalised seizures

Generalised tonic-clonic seizures
During this seizure, a person may shout, stiffen and/or fall to the ground. There is rhythmic tightening and relaxation of muscles and a person may turn blue around your mouth from a lack of oxygen. He or she may make strange noises, salivate and be incontinent, and will lose consciousness during the seizure.

Absence seizures
This seizure is often mistaken for daydreaming. It involves blank staring and failure to respond with possible twitching, chewing, and blinking of eyelids. There’s a brief loss of consciousness.

Myoclonic seizures
These are brief, involuntary muscle jerks. Single or multiple jerks can take place, as well as jerking of different bodily parts.

Tonic seizures
General stiffening of muscles without jerking occurs. A person may lose consciousness and fall.

Atonic seizures
This seizure is also known as “drop attacks”. There is a sudden and brief loss of all muscle tone, causing a person to go limp, lose consciousness and fall to the ground.

Partial seizures

Simple partial seizures
Consciousness is not lost or affected. Someone having a simple partial seizure may have an altered sense of perception, and spontaneous symptoms like tingling, dizziness and flashing lights. There may be some numbness or jerking in one limb or down one side of the body.

Complex partial seizures
This involves a change or loss of consciousness or awareness. You may stare into space and have abnormal behaviour or movements, like disorientation, lip smacking, or wander around aimlessly.

How to help someone who’s having a seizure

Keep yourself out of harm’s way if the person is writhing around. Don’t try to restrain or restrict his or her movements.
Clear the space around the person. Make sure there’s nothing nearby that could harm them. Cushion the head for protection.
Loosen tight-fitting clothing or neck-wear and remove their glasses.
Wipe away excess saliva to help the person breathe. Do not put anything between the person’s teeth or mouth during the seizure. Take note of the time in which the seizure took place and how long it lasts.
Once the seizure has stopped, place the person in the recovery position, i.e. on the side, top leg bent, bottom arm extended slightly. Turn the head to open the airways and make sure he’s breathing normally. Stay with the person until he’s recovered. Do not offer food or medication until he’s fully alert.
Allow the person to rest. Sleep is necessary after a seizure.
If the person has been injured or the seizure lasts longer than six minutes, or if the person has repeated seizures without recovering, call a doctor or an ambulance immediately.

Self-care, if you have epilepsy

Try not to worry or stress about having a seizure. This anxiety may trigger seizures.
Get to know your condition and educate others, especially your family and friends, and those you work and live with. Teach them the correct way to handle a seizure in case they are with you when you have one.
Wear a medical alert bracelet at all times to let others know about your condition.
Join an epilepsy support group and socialise with others who understand what you’re going through.
Always take your medication as prescribed. Never adjust your dosage or change your medication before discussing it with your doctor.

References

Get a leg up on back pain

January 31st, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

You hesitate to bend and lift things, and even reaching for something is painful. Back pain can make you feel years older than you actually are and if it isn’t managed, it could cause serious damage. There are different remedies that can be used to treat back pain and keeping your legs fit is one of them. If you’re unsure, why not chat to one of our doctors? We’ll help you figure out what’s up.

Sore back? You might be guilty of one of these…

Being unfit increases your risk for back pain, especially if you work out in erratic bursts. Lack of exercise leads to weak back muscles, obesity, weak stomach muscles and muscle inflexibility.
Not sitting up straight or even bending over awkwardly can place unnecessary strain on your back.
Some people are genetically prone to back pain, usually because they inherited spinal structural abnormalities.
Work that stresses the back, like lifting, forceful movements, bending and twisting into awkward positions, repetitive movements and vibrations, which can all place strain on the back.
Pregnancy makes women prone to back pain due to the shifting of abdominal organs, forward redistribution of body weight, and loosening of ligaments in the pelvic area before delivery.
Smoking may decrease blood circulation to the tissues of the back.

How to move it and alleviate pain
Exercise helps to keep your body healthy and fit. By working leg exercises into your training routine, you could help to ease your back pain in time. Strengthening your legs will help with your back pain as weak and sore glutes fail to support your lumbar spine, which may lead to back pain. When your glutes are tight, they affect your pelvic tilt and you risk injury to the lumbar discs. It’s important to condition these muscles in order for you to recover from lower back pain.

Pistol squat
Stand holding your arms straight out in front of your body at shoulder level, parallel to the floor. Raise your right leg off the floor, and hold it there. Push your hips back and lower your body as far as you can. Pause, then push your body back to the starting position. Repeat 10 reps for 5 sets.

Reverse dumbbell box lunge with forward reach
Stand on a box or step, holding a pair of light dumbbells at your sides. Step backward into a lunge with your right leg as you lean forward at your hips and reach toward your feet. Reverse the movement to return to the starting position.

Goblet squat
Hold a dumbbell vertically next to your chest, with both hands cupping the dumbbell head. (Imagine that it’s a heavy goblet.) Brace your abs, and lower your body as far as you can by pushing your hips back and bending your knees. Pause, then push yourself back to the starting position.

Top tips

Maintain perfect posture by sitting up straight with your feet on the floor and avoid slouching when walking or sitting.
Use ice and heat as a combination to ease back pain.
Exercise regularly to keep your muscles in shape. This will help to keep your back muscles strong.

Talk to your doctor if your symptoms are severe.

References

The surprising effect of kissing on your brain

October 2nd, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

We all (hopefully) know the amazing feeling that comes with that first kiss. But did you know how powerful that effect really is? Some studies even suggest that more of your brain fires up during a first kiss than during sex!

Continue reading “The surprising effect of kissing on your brain”

Is dad having a stroke? What do I do?

September 21st, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’re having your usual Sunday afternoon chat with dad, he’s laughing at one of your lame jokes – and suddenly stops. He says something, but you can’t hear what it is. His speech is slurred and his infectious smile is suddenly gone. Is he having a stroke?

We hope that you never have to experience this. If you do, though, we want to be sure you’re prepared.

What is happening?

When someone has a stroke, the blood supply to their brain gets cut off; blood carries nutrients and oxygen to the brain and without these, cells become damaged and die.

There are 3 different types of stroke, which is also known as a “brain attack”.

1.Ischaemic stroke

This happens when the blood supply to the brain is stopped – usually by a type of blockage such as a blood clot. (Although drugs or blood vessel damage can also lead to this type of stroke.)

2. Haemorrhagic stroke

A blood vessel in the brain splits, which causes bleeding on, or in the brain. This type of stroke is less common, but is far more serious.

3. Transient Ischaemic attack (TIA)

This is commonly known as a “mini-stroke” – but dad would have the same symptoms as a normal stroke. However, unlike the other types of stroke, the blockage is temporary, and symptoms will last for a maximum of 24 hours. You would still need to be seen by a doctor to be sure!

What do you do?

You may start panicking when someone close to you suddenly has symptoms of a stroke. Take a few, deep breaths, and remind yourself that you need to think clearly in order to help them.

So, how do you recognize all the symptoms of a stroke? Here’s an easy mnemonic to help you remember: it’s just 4 letters: F.A.S.T!

Face. Ask dad to smile to see if one side of his face is drooping
Arms. Ask him to raise both arms. Does one of his arms drift downwards?
Speech. Is dad able to repeat a simple sentence in a clear voice?
Time. If you see any of these symptoms, call an ambulance, immediately!

These questions help to see if the brain has lost the ability to communicate to your body: a sure sign of stroke.

One more important thing

While there are uncontrollable risk factors, dad (and you!) can lessen the likelihood of a stroke by making certain lifestyle changes such as: quitting smoking, watching alcohol intake, exercising and following a healthy, balanced diet.

Seeing a loved-one having a stroke feels devastating, but by acting FAST, you have the power to save their life! Here’s to many more Sunday afternoon chats with Pops!