Overview
The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and a large network of nerves throughout the body. It helps control thoughts, memory, emotions, movement, balance, sensation, and automatic functions such as breathing, digestion, and heartbeat. When this system is injured or affected by disease, symptoms can be mild, long-lasting, or sudden and severe.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on which part of the nervous system is affected. They may include headaches, dizziness, numbness, tingling, weakness, tremor, seizures, memory problems, confusion, vision changes, balance trouble, or difficulty speaking or swallowing. Some symptoms develop slowly, while others begin suddenly and need urgent attention.
Causes and Risk Factors
Nervous system problems can be caused by injury, stroke, infections, tumors, autoimmune diseases, genetic conditions, poor blood flow, toxic exposures, and changes linked with aging. Risk factors vary by condition but can include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, heavy alcohol use, head injury, certain infections, and family history. Sometimes the cause is not found right away.
Who Is Affected
Brain and nervous system conditions can affect people of any age, including babies, children, adults, and older people. Some conditions are present from birth, while others become more common with age. Access to emergency care, vaccination, injury prevention, and treatment for long-term conditions can affect outcomes around the world.
Prevention
Not all nervous system conditions can be prevented, but some risks can be lowered. Protecting the head, managing blood pressure and diabetes, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, staying physically active, sleeping well, and keeping up with recommended vaccines may help reduce risk. Preventing infections and getting prompt care for stroke warning signs are also important.
Diagnosis and Tests
Healthcare professionals usually begin with a medical history and a neurological exam to check strength, sensation, reflexes, coordination, and mental status. Depending on symptoms, tests may include blood tests, brain or spine imaging such as CT or MRI, nerve tests, spinal fluid testing, or an electroencephalogram to look at brain activity. Diagnosis often depends on the pattern of symptoms and how quickly they appeared.
Treatment Categories
Treatment depends on the cause and may include emergency care, medicines, surgery, rehabilitation, mental health support, and treatment of underlying conditions such as infection or high blood pressure. Some conditions improve quickly, while others need long-term management. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help many people recover function or adapt to changes.
Living With It
Living with a brain or nervous system condition may affect mobility, communication, mood, memory, work, school, or independence. Follow-up care, rehabilitation, family support, and community services can make daily life easier. It can help to keep a list of symptoms, medicines, triggers, and questions for appointments.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get emergency help right away for sudden weakness or numbness, face drooping, trouble speaking, a seizure lasting several minutes or repeated seizures, loss of consciousness, a severe sudden headache, sudden vision loss, confusion, or serious head injury. Also seek urgent care for new trouble walking, sudden severe dizziness, or symptoms of stroke or meningitis. Fast treatment can reduce the risk of lasting harm.