By: Linda Boone BSN,RN Imagine living with an internal alarm that never fully turns off, leaving you constantly on edge—startled by sudden noises or feeling as though you might jump out of your skin. This persistent state of tension can create a cycle of anxiety, keeping your body in a “fight or flight” response even in the absence of real danger. When stress becomes chronic, you may alternate between feeling anxious and irritable or emotionally numb and shut down. If your bo

Postpartum depression is a condition that happens after delivering a baby, leading a person to feel extreme sadness and extreme mood swings. The exact cause of postpartum depression is currently unknown, but it's said to stem from a variety of factors such as changes in hormonal levels, changing lifestyle factors, and physical changes. Postpartum depression can develop gradually or within the first weeks after having a baby. Women with postpartum depression are usually diagno

An absence seizure is a type of epilepsy that causes brief, subtle episodes of "blanking out."

Introduction Caregiving can be rewarding, but providing care for a dementia patient comes with significant challenges. Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder, primarily affecting older people (1). It is characterised by gradual loss of memory, difficulty to recall information and inability to recognise even their family members (1). Since no treatment method has been found yet to cure dementia, focused caregiving is the primary source of their support (1). Understanding the sy

Millions of people rely on their daily cup of coffee to kick-start their day and banish fatigue. Caffeine is the world's most popular psychoactive substance, prized for its ability to promote alertness and focus. However, a significant number of individuals experience a strange and frustrating phenomenon: instead of feeling energized after drinking coffee, they feel an overwhelming urge to sleep. This paradoxical response, sometimes called "caffeine-induced sleepiness," is a

Most people have had a headache at some point in their life. It is so common that we do not really think twice about it. But migraines? Those are different and honestly, they are still misunderstood. A lot of people use the words migraine and headache like they mean the same thing. You will hear someone say, “I have a migraine,” when really they just have a bad headache. And I get it, pain is pain. But medically, they are not the same at all. The simplest way to understand it

Cluster headache is one of the most underdiagnosed and frequently misinterpreted headache disorders due to its distinctive pattern of attacks and symptoms. Migraines, sinusitis, and allergy headaches are well known among patients and healthcare providers, but identifying cluster headaches still remains a challenge due to lack of awareness. Though these headaches are considered rare in comparison to other types, they can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life;

The Brain Have you ever heard the term “hunger cues”? Or wondered why your body tells you to stop eating once you feel full? That sensation isn’t random -- it’s controlled by a hormone called leptin. Leptin is a protein hormone produced primarily by fat (adipose) cells in your body. Its main job is to help regulate energy balance. After you eat, fat cells release leptin into the bloodstream. This hormone travels to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which is respon

Image credit: Freepik What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder of the central nervous system. It affects about 2-8% of the global population and appears to be more common in women than men. Fibromyalgia is often misunderstood as a psychosomatic condition with an inexplicable pathology within the medical community. Patients with fibromyalgia experience the following symptoms: Muscle stiffness Joint stiffness Insomnia Fatigue Anxiety and depression Cognitiv

Do you suffer from scalp itching and facial redness whenever you feel stressed or embarrassed? You are not alone. This is your story – with your nervous system and old memories. Symptoms You Don't Talk About Imagine you are in an important meeting, a smart answer on the tip of your tongue, but suddenly… your scalp starts itching. An intense itch, as if all your blood is rushing to your head. Your cheeks turn red, and you feel everyone is looking at you. Your confidence wavers

Image portrays an autistic woman masking in public Autistic women hide behind a mask (Masking) Women who are autistic tend to hide or mask or camouflage their autistic symptoms more than men. They employ strategies to compensate for their natural autistic behaviours in social situations. These strategies are often used to prevent the amount of prejudice they face while also reducing social awkwardness and help with meeting their work or educational goals. Doing this can resul

Have you ever felt “butterflies” before something exciting or a sinking feeling when you’re nervous? These experiences aren’t just in your head! They’re part of a real, ongoing conversation between your gut and your brain. This relationship, often called the gut–brain connection, shows how closely your physical and emotional states are linked. A Two-Way Communication System The gut and brain are constantly sending signals back and forth. While the brain communicates with the

Despite both being medical emergencies involving the brain, there is a significant difference between the diagnosis of Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and Stroke. Understanding this distinction is crucial, as it impacts treatment decisions and patient prognosis.

Neurological diseases are disorders that are specially difficult for the general population to understand, but they are often even more complicated to explain for scientists and treating physicians. In general, we can make two broad distinctions between these diseases: inherited and acquired. The former has genetic and epigenetic causes and are the result of one or more pathological variations and SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms, small “mutations” that everybody has and

Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in which nerve cells in the brain progressively die, resulting in development of dementia that negatively affects memory and cognitive behavior. The symptoms such as memory loss, disorientations, and mood/behavior changes eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily routines. According to the Alzheimer's Association, over 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s di

By: Nesredin Hassen Yesuf LinkedIn | Email Introduction Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of acute unilateral lower motor neuron facial paralysis and remains a frequent presentation in primary care, emergency medicine, and neurology. Characterized by sudden onset of facial weakness without an identifiable structural cause, it accounts for the majority of cases of peripheral facial nerve palsy. Although often self-limiting, early recognition and treatment significantly im

1.Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication, behaviour, and sensory processing. It reflects the diversity of human development rather than a single uniform condition. ASD arises from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental influences. Increasing prevalence incidence. Importantly Autism is not disease which can be fixed but has to be under

Introduction Why does a slice of cake feel so satisfying even when we are hungry? Beyond taste, beyond calories, beyond sweetness, sugar activates a network in the brain structure known as the mesolimbic pathway. When we eat sugar, this system releases dopamine, reinforcing behaviours the brain interprets as rewarding. While this response is a part of normal human physiology, the frequency and intensity with which it is stimulated in modern dietary environments is historicall

Post-operative delirium (POD) is a common but serious complication following surgery, particularly in older adults, characterized by sudden confusion, disorientation, and fluctuating consciousness. Raising awareness among healthcare providers and families is crucial, not only for early detection and prevention but also for responding with patience and compassion, recognizing that behind the confusion is a person deserving of dignity and understanding.

When we listen to our favorite tune, we might feel a shiver run down our spine, a sense of calm and peace, or perhaps we are transported back to a forgotten memory. These feelings are not just fleeting emotional reactions; they are a direct reflection of music's profound and complex impact on our nervous system. From soothing nerves to stimulating the brain, scientific research is unveiling a powerful relationship that transcends music as mere art, positioning it as an influe