Brain damage causes destruction or deterioration of brain cells. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury (ABI) are two kinds of brain damage. Symptoms may include headaches, confusion, memory problems, nausea, and more. Treatment includes patient stabilization and ensuring that blood and oxygen are flowing to the brain. Adequate blood pressure control is also necessary. In cases of severe brain damage, surgery and rehabilitation may be required. Read more: Brain Damage: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Article
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Brain Damage: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment See brain scan pictures of Alzheimer's and types of dementia See ImagesRelated Disease Conditions
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Headache
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
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Brain Aneurysm
Brain aneurysm (cerebral aneurysm) is caused by microscopic damage to artery walls, infections of the artery walls, tumors, trauma, drug abuse. Symptoms include headache, numbness of the face, dilated pupils, changes in vision, the "worst headache of your life," or a painful stiff neck. Immediate treatment for a brain aneurysm is crucial for patient survival.
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Brain Tumor: Warning Symptoms, Types, Causes, Treatments, and Cure
A brain tumor can be either non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant), primary, or secondary. Common symptoms of a primary brain tumor are headaches, seizures, memory problems, personality changes, and nausea and vomiting. Causes and risk factors include age, gender, family history, and exposure to chemicals. Treatment is depends upon the tumor type, grade, and location.
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Stroke
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain caused by either a blood clot (ischemic) or bleeding (hemorrhagic). Symptoms of a stroke may include: weakness, numbness, double vision or vision loss, confusion, vertigo, difficulty speaking or understanding speech. A physical exam, imaging tests, neurological exam, and blood tests may be used to diagnose a stroke. Treatment may include administration of clot-busting drugs, supportive care, and in some instances, neurosurgery. The risk of stroke can be reduced by controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and stopping smoking.
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Brain Hemorrhage
A brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke caused when an artery bursts in the brain, causing localized bleeding in the surrounding tissue. Causes of brain hemorrhage include aneurysm, liver disease, brain tumor, head trauma, high blood pressure, and blood vessel abnormalities. Symptoms include sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, tingling, numbness, vision changes, loss of consciousness, and loss of fine motor skills. Treatment depends upon the cause, location, and size of the brain hemorrhage.
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Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. There are numerous cases of nausea and vomiting. Some causes may not require medical treatment, for example, motion sickness, and other causes may require medical treatment by a doctor, for example, heart attack, lung infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Some causes of nausea and vomiting may be life-threatening, for example, heart attack, abdominal obstruction, and cancers. Treatment of nausea and vomiting depends upon the cause.
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Tremors
Tremor is the involuntary movements of one or more parts of the body. Causes of tremor include neurological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, drugs, mercury poisoning, overactive thyroid and liver failure. There are several types of tremor. Treatment depends upon the type of tremor and availability of medications for the condition.
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Brain Cancer
Cancers that form from brain tissue are called primary brain tumors. Brain tumors may be malignant (brain cancer) or benign. Certain risk factors, such as working in an oil refinery, as a chemist, or embalmer, increase the likelihood of developing brain cancer. Symptoms include headaches, weakness, seizures, difficulty walking, blurry vision, nausea,vomiting, and changes in speech, memory, or personality. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
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Fatigue
Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases, for example, anemia, mono, medications, sleep problems, cancer, anxiety, heart disease, and drug abuse.Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease that is causing the fatigue.
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Stress
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
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Brain Lesions (Lesions on the Brain)
A brain lesion is defined as an area of damaged brain. Brain lesions (lesions on the brain) are caused by trauma, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancers, other diseases, stroke, bleeding, pituitary adenomas, and cerebral palsy. Symptoms of brain lesions include headache, nausea, fever, neck pain and stiffness, affected vision and speech, and weakness or paralysis to one side of the body. Diagnosis of brain lesions is generally accomplished with imaging studies like CT or MRI scans. Treatment and prognosis of brain lesions depends on the cause of the lesion.
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Drug Abuse
Drug addiction is a chronic disease that causes drug-seeking behavior and drug use despite negative consequences to the user and those around him. Though the initial decision to use drugs is voluntary, changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self-control and ability to make the right decisions and increase the urge to take drugs. Drug abuse and addiction are preventable.
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Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
A heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical instability of the heart.
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Head Injury (Brain Injury)
In the United States, head injuries are one of the most common causes of death and disability. Head injuries due to bleeding are generally classified by the location of the blood within the skull, these include epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, subarachnoid bleed, intracranial bleed, sheer injury, edema, and skull fracture. Some common symptoms of a head injury include vomiting, bleeding from the ear, speech difficulties, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and body numbness. Treatment of a head injury depends on the type and severity of the injury.
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Seizures Symptoms and Types
Seizures are divided into two categories: generalized and partial. Generalized seizures are produced by electrical impulses from throughout the brain, while partial seizures are produced by electrical impulses in a small part of the brain. Seizure symptoms include unconsciousness, convulsions, and muscle rigidity.
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Seizure (Epilepsy)
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which the person has seizures. There are two kinds of seizures, focal and generalized. There are many causes of epilepsy. Treatment of epilepsy (seizures) depends upon the cause and type of seizures experienced.
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Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium)
Hyponatremia is a condition in which the levels of sodium in the blood is too low. Some of the symptoms of hyponatremia include headaches, muscle cramps or spasm, seizures, weakness, restlessness, and confusion. Hyponatremia can occur from excess fluid in the body, or a loss of sodium in body fluid. Causes of low levels of sodium in the blood include chronic diseases like kidney or congestive heart failure, adrenal gland problems, hypothyroidism, and liver cirrhosis, and some medications. Diet and other lifestyle changes in addition to treatment with electrolyte replacement with an IV. Other treatments for hyponatremia depend upon the cause.
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Tumor Grade
Tumor grade is a system used to classify cancer cells in how likely the tumor is to grow and how abnormal they look under a microscope. Tumor grade is not the same as tumor stage. A biopsy is taken to determine if the tumor is benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
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Face Blindness (Prosopagnosia)
Face blindness (prosopagnosia) is a condition that causes the inability to recognize faces. Face blindness may be caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, or certain neurodegenerative diseases. Treatment involves helping the patient develop compensatory strategies.
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Drowning (Dry, Wet, Near)
Drowning is a common cause of death and disability worldwide. In the US, it is the third most common cause of accidental death. Complications of drowning include: brain damage, pneumonia, ARDS, hypothermia, and spine fractures. At times, there are discussions of near drowning, wet vs. dry, or salt vs. fresh water drownings. Children and young adults are at most risk for drowning accidents. Medical emergencies in the water may lead to drowning such as: seizures, hypoglycemia, sudden cardiac death, or heart attack. Treatment of a drowning victim depends up on the severity of the injury. Prevention is the key to prevent drowning.
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West Syndrome (Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prognosis, Life Expectancy)
West Syndrome is rare condition that affects infants and children, and has three distinct signs and symptoms (characteristics), 1) abnormal brain waves on EEG, 2) infantile spasms (jackknife seizures), and 3) mental retardation. West syndrome characteristics appear between age 3 and 12 months. West syndrome is caused or associated with severe brain damage at birth, tuberosis sclerosis, and prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal disorders. Cryptogenic West syndrome has no identifiable cause). There is no treatment or cure for West syndrome. Symptoms and signs of West syndrome may be managed with medication. The prognosis and life expectancy for an individual with West syndrome varies depending upon the cause and severity of signs and symptoms. For every 100 infants and children, about five will not live past age five.
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What Were Your First Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Tumor?
The symptoms of a tumor depend on how big it is and where it is in the brain. Some slow-growing tumors may not cause any symptoms at first. Eventually, the tumor may put pressure on the brain that may cause the signs and symptoms like severe headaches, seizures, irritability, dizziness, personality change and more.
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Coma Causes and Glasgow Coma Scale
Coma is the inability to waken or react to the surrounding environment. The Glasgow Coma Scale is frequently used to measure the depth of coma. Causes of coma include trauma, bleeding, edema, lack of oxygen, poisoning, or hypoglycemia. Prognosis for a patient in a coma depends on the cause of the coma.
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Seizure vs. Seizure Disorders (Differences and Similarities)
The differences between a seizure, epilepsy, and seizure disorders are confusing to many people. What makes it more confusing, is that they are not the same thing. A seizure begins suddenly, and is a symptom of another disease. When a seizure occurs there is uncontrolled activity in the brain that usually only lasts for a short period. While a seizure disorder is a medical condition, in which the person has episodes of uncontrolled activity in the brain producing symptoms that include one or more seizures. Epilepsy is considered a seizure disorder.There are two types of major seizures, generalized and partial seizure type and the symptoms depend upon the part of the brain affected, and may include: Loss of consciousness Thought disturbances Convulsions Eye rolling Stiff limbs Twitching on only one side or a portion of the body like an arm or leg. Involuntary urination or bowel movement Repetitive shaking or jerking of the body Staring into space, sometimes with eye blinking No loss of consciousness, but the person becomes confused for a few minutes A third type of seizure is called unclassified seizure.Seizure disorders are classified under two types of major seizures (generalized and partial), and a third type called unclassified seizures. There are about 40 types of named seizure disorders. The symptoms and signs are different depending on the part of the brain affected by the seizure. Examples of seizure disorders are: Febrile seizures Benign Rolandic epilepsy Catamenial epilepsy Absence seizures Frontal lobe epilepsy Epilepsy Sometimes there is a known cause for a seizure like alcohol, cocaine or other illegal drug abuse, drug reactions, a severe chemical imbalance in the blood, or medical problems like low blood pressure. Treatment, management, and prevention of seizures include medication and avoiding any known causes or common triggers. REFERENCES: CDC. "Types of Seizures." Updated: Apr 10, 2017.Harvard Health Publications; Harvard Medical School. "Generalized Seizures (Grand Mal Seizures)."
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Concussion
Concussion is a short-lived loss of brain function that is due to head trauma. There are two types of concussion, simple and complex. Symptoms of concussion include headache, nausea, dizziness, dazed feeling, irritability, visual symptoms. Physical signs include poor concentration, emotional changes, slurred speech, and personality changes. Concussion is diagnosed with physical examination and testing. Treatment for concussion in general are treatment for control of the symptoms, and time.
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Reye Syndrome
Reye's syndrome (RS or Reye syndrome) is a sudden, sometimes fatal, disease of the brain with degeneration of the liver. Reye syndrome is associated with giving children medications containing aspirin. Symptoms include vomiting, listlessness, irritability or combativeness, confusion, delirium, delusions, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Treatment depends on early diagnosis and focuses on protecting the brain against irreversible damage by reducing brain swelling, reversing the metabolic injury, preventing complications in the lungs, and anticipating cardiac arrest.
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What Are The 12 Cranial Nerves and Their Function?
Twelve cranial nerves extend from your brain to help control various motor functions. Find out more about what they do and how to recognize signs of a cranial nerve disorder.
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Headaches in Children
Kids get headaches and migraines too. Many adults with headaches started having them as kids, in fact, 20% of adult headache sufferers say their headaches started before age 10, and 50% report their headaches started before age 20.
Treatment & Diagnosis
- Loss of Taste Sensation
- Nausea
- Fatigue, Tiredness, and Lethargy
- Blurred Vision
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Difficulty With Speech
- Vision Loss
- Altered Mental Status
- Photophobia
- Dilated Pupils (Mydriasis)
- Poor Hygiene
- Paralysis
- Headache
- Increased Appetite
- Confusion
- Unsteady Gait
- Memory Loss
- Seizure (Epilepsy)
- Self-Neglect
- Fainting (Syncope)
- Tremors
- Double Vision
- How to Choose a Doctor
- Hearing Loss
- Doctor: Checklist to Take To Your Doctor's Appointment
- Doctor: Getting the Most from Your Doctor's Appointment
Medications & Supplements
Prevention & Wellness
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- Brain, Nervous System Affected in 1 in 3 Cases of Severe COVID-19
- Recovery From Mild Brain Trauma Takes Longer Than Expected: Study
- Study Ties Brain Inflammation to Several Types of Dementia
- When 'Time Is Brain,' Mobile Stroke Units Speed Care
- Wearable 'Brain Stimulator' May Boost Stroke Recovery
- Woman Plays Violin During Brain Surgery
- Repeated Boxing Head Injuries Cause Brain Shrinkage
- More Doubt That Plaques in the Brain Cause Alzheimer's
- Could Screens' Blue Light Make You Old Before Your Time?
- Mosquito-Borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Hits Late Season
- More Years of Football, Higher Odds for Brain Disease Later
- Why Do Girls Take Longer Than Boys to Recover From Concussions?
- Vets With Traumatic Brain Injury Have Higher Suicide Risk: Study
- Concussed NFL Players Sidelined for Much Longer Nowadays
- Rugby-Style Tackling Might Make Football Safer
- Concussion Recovery Isn't the Same for Every Football Player
- Mind-Reading Tech Could Bring 'Synthetic Speech' to Brain-Damaged Patients
- Scientists Bring Pig's Brain, Dead 4 Hours, Back to 'Cellular Activity'
- Are Soccer Pros at Higher Risk for ALS?
- Brain Condition CTE Seen in H.S. Football Players: Study
- How Inactivity and Junk Food Can Harm Your Brain
- Even Slight Rise in Blood Pressure Might Shrink Young Brains
- Heart Surgery Won't Cause Brain Decline, New Study Says
- Brain Changes Seen in MRIs of Young Football Players
- Cocaine Cut With Anti-Worming Drug May Cause Brain Damage
- Widely Used Antipsychotics May Not Ease Delirium in ICU
- Hard Arteries Hard on the Aging Brain?
- 1 in 6 Americans Over 40 Has Been Knocked Unconscious: Study
- Routine X-Rays, Blood Tests Not Needed for Children's Concussions
- Study Finds Some Patients With A-Fib Have Hidden Brain Damage
- How Severe Brain Injuries Might Trigger Dementia
- New Method of Getting Drugs Into Brain Shows Promise
- Adrenaline Shot Can Save Lives After Heart Stops, But at a Heavy Price
- Obesity Adds to Burden of Traumatic Brain Injury
- 'Heading' Soccer Balls May Be Bad for Balance
- Girl in Controversial Brain Death Case Dies
- 2.5 Million U.S. High School Students Had a Concussion in Past Year
- U.S. Consulate Staff in China Fall Ill After Hearing Odd Sounds
- Outbreak of Deadly Brain-Damaging Virus In India: WHO
- Nearby Lightning Shut Down a Woman's Brain Implant
- Older Brains Replenish Cells Just Like Young Brains: Study
- Theater Workers' Head Injuries Often Go Unreported
- Health Tip: Recognize Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
- Diesel Exhaust Might Raise Truckers' Odds for ALS
- Wartime Bomb Blasts May Lead to Memory Problems
- As Stroke 'Liquefies' Brain Tissue, Lasting Harm May Spread
- Tiny Device Could Lead to Better Treatment of Brain Diseases
- FDA Issues Tougher Warning on MRI Dye Tied to Brain Effects
- Does Time of Neurosurgery Matter?
- Gene Therapy May Be Breakthrough for Boys With 'Lorenzo's Oil' Disease
- Combined MRI Might Help Predict Brain Damage in Boxers
- Nearly All Autopsied NFL Players Show Trauma-Linked Brain Disease
- Scans May Show Consciousness in 'Comatose' Patients
- Oxygen Therapy Revives Brain of Toddler Who Nearly Drowned
- Boxers, MMA Fighters May Face Long-Term Harm to Brain: Study
- Force, Frequency of Head Hits Jump as Young Football Players Get Older
- 'Brain Age' May Help Predict When You'll Die
- Type 2 Diabetes May Be Bad for Brain Health
- Could a Zap to the Brain Jog Failing Memory?
- Hockey Doesn't Seem to Hit Players' Thinking Skills: Study
- Brain Chip Helps Paralyzed 'Type' With Their Mind
- Better Sleep May Signal Recovery From Brain Injury
- Heart Failure Protein May Signal Early Brain Damage
- Scans Show Changes in Some Soldiers With Mild Brain Injuries
- Few States Have Plans for Kids Returning to Class After Concussion
- Health Tip: Recognizing Traumatic Brain Injury
- New Tool Gauges Likely Survival After Gunshot to the Head
- Brain Chips Help Paralyzed Man Regain Sense of Touch Using Robotic Arm
- Sleep Doesn't Come Easy to Those With Brain Injuries
- Could Implanted Sensor Revolutionize Brain Monitoring?
- Many Who Survive Cardiac Arrest Don't Suffer Brain Damage
- Rugby Player's Head Injuries Linked to Brain Decline
- Head Injuries May Prematurely Age the Brain, Study Suggests
- Health Tip: Does Your Bike Helmet Fit?
- Vets' Brain Damage From Blasts Not Always Apparent: Study
- What 'Brain-Dead' Means
- Pop Songs May Awaken Fond Memories for Brain-Damaged Patients
- Sex Lives Often an Overlooked Casualty of Traumatic Brain Injury
- Boston Bombing Aftermath: Fear, Empathy, Anger
- Prepared for Trauma, Overwhelmed by Carnage
- Citicoline Supplement Doesn't Help Treat Brain Injury, Study Finds
- Scans Spot Brain Changes in Patients With Concussion Syndrome
- Study Shows Bicycle Helmets Save Lives
- Study of Brain-Injured Man Sheds Light on Self-Awareness
- Adding More Neurosurgeons Could Cut Traffic Deaths: Study
- College Football Players' Concussion Rates Double
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