MOTOR NEURON DISEASES

Saturday, February 21, 2009

MOTOR NEURON DISEASES:

The motor neuron are a group of progressive neurological disorders that destroy motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body.

Different types of MND:

There are four main types of MND, each affecting people in different ways. There can be a great deal of overlap between all of these forms, so, while it is useful to separate the v arious types of the disease, in practice it is not always possible to be so specific.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
This is the most common form, with both upper and lower motor neurone involvement.
This form of the disease is characterized by weakness and wasting in the limbs. Someone may notice they are tripping when walking or dropping things. Average life expectancy is from two to five years from onset of symptoms.

Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP)
Affects about a quarter of people diagnosed, and involves both the upper and lower motor neurones. Symptoms may include slurring of speech or difficulty swallowing. Life expectancy is between six months and three years from onset of symptoms.

Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA)
Affects only a small proportion of people, mainly causing damage to the lower motor neurones. Early symptoms may be noticed as weakness or clumsiness of the hand. Most people live for more than five years.

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS)
A rare form of MND involving the upper motor neurones only, causing mainly weakness in the lower limbs, although some people may experience clumsiness in the hands or speech problems. Life span could essentially be normal, although it may be life-limiting, depending on whether it remains as pure PLS or develops into ALS.

Epilepsy.....an overview.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Epilepsy means a tendency to have seizures preceded by an AURA(a subjective sensation before an attack of a disease.)
This disease affects 6-7 individual out of 1000.

Role/achievements of modern medicine:
Modern medicine, scientist, neurologist can do much for proper diagnosis and treatment of an epilepsy. Modern imaging technique(MRI, CT scan), scientific knowledge and dedication can help to diagnose the proper pathological causes of epilepsy in brain.
Over all they do the good job.........

On the basis of study epilepsy can be classified as:
Generalized epilepsy
Partial epilepsy

There are many Causes of epilepsy:
Hereditary
Psychological
Injury
Pathological
Physiological

Trigger factors:
Alcohol
Diet
Infection and Illness
Lack of sleep
Menstruation
Photo sensitivity
Severe change in temperature
Stress.

Management:
Modern medicine can able to deal with the acute state by giving anticonvulsant drug and others.
Surgical treatment is one of the solution if any pathological cause is present.

But in spite of the over all study and modern scientific highly valuable investigation can not answer the possible or permanent treatment of an epilepsy.

Epilepsy - What is it.........?

Understanding Epilepsy And its Homeopathic Answer.....

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes people to have recurring seizures. The seizures happen when clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain send out the wrong signals. People may have strange sensations and emotions or behave strangely. They may have violent muscle spasms or lose consciousness.

Epilepsy means a tendency to have seizures and is a symptom of brain disease rather than disease itself.

However the recurrence rate is about 70% after first attack.

Ancient Belief About Epilepsy:

Epilepsy, the so-called Sacred Disease, was known as the disease of Hercules because Hercules reportedly suffered from epilepsy when he went mad. Julius Caesar is believed to have had epilepsy. Alexander the Great, Socrates, Caligula, and Saul, king of the Israelites, may also have suffered seizures.

Derek Collins, in Magic in the Ancient Greek World, devotes much of his second chapter to the Sacred Disease and its magical or divine connections. When Hercules suffered an epileptic seizure, Lussa, a goddess of madness, entered his body, according to the ancient stories. This made epilepsy a type of possession. Purification was the preferred method of treating such defilement as possession, although not all possessions were considered dirty: Apollo "possessed" the Pythian priestess when she uttered her predictions; however, the Pythian priestess was simply enhanced, not defiled.

In the third chapter of his book on ancient Greek magic, Collins quotes Plutarch about infant exposure, the practice of letting an unwanted infant lie outside in the elements and so die. Plutarch says the Spartans bathed infants in wine in order to induce epileptic convulsions, if the newborns were so inclined. If they convulsed, they would be exposed at the foot of a mountain at the Apothetai (the exposure place).

Famous Quotes About Epilepsy:

"There is no evidence... that either epileptic seizures or a predisposition to epilepsy is capable of engendering exceptional talents. Rather, the occasional concurrence of epilepsy and genius most likely reflects the probability that a common disorder will at times afflict people with uncommon potential."

"Sometimes the same things that cause epilepsy result in giftedness. If you damage an area [of the brain] early enough in life, the corresponding area on the other side has a chance to overdevelop."

"A temporal lobe focus in the superior individual may spark an extraordinary search for that entity we alternately call truth or beauty."

World Homoeopathy Day

Saturday, February 7, 2009

We celebrate a number of world awareness days on almost every disease/condition mentioned in the medical dictionary such as Diabetic day, AIDS day, Alzheimer's day and what not? We also spend a lot for SMSs and phone calls to greet our friends on such days. Now, we are approaching April 10th, the birthday of our master Dr Samuel Hahnemann. It should be celebrated as "WORLD HOMOEOPATHY DAY". For this, why should we wait for someone's approval? Aude sapare! Lets put our hands together and celebrate the world homoeopathy day 2009.