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Alcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol every day suddenly stops drinking alcohol.
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Brain abscess is a bacterial infection within the brain. The brain is usually well insulated from infection by bacteria, protected by the skull, the meninges (tissue layers surrounding the brain), the immune system, and the highly regulated barrier between the bloodstream and the brain.
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A brain abscess is a mass of immune cells, pus, and other material that can occur when the brain is infected by bacteria or fungus.
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Detailed information on brain abscess, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. Unlike other tumors, brain tumors spread by local extension and rarely metastasize (spread) outside the brain.
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A tumor is any growth of abnormal cells, or the uncontrolled growth of cells. This article is about primary brain tumors. These start in the brain, rather than spreading to the brain from another part of the body. See also: Brain tumor - metastatic (cancer that has spread to the brain) Brain tumor - children
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Detailed information on brain tumors, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, types, and treatment
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A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue, either malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous), in the brain. Each year, more than 17,000 brain tumors are diagnosed in the United States.
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Can I Get Checked for a Brain Tumor Before I Have Symptoms?Screening tests check for signs of cancer in people who don’t have any symptoms.
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How Does My Doctor Know I Have a Brain Tumor?If you have symptoms of a brain tumor, your doctor will first ask questions about these symptoms.
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What Is a Brain Tumor?The brain is a complex organ made up of many different cells and parts.
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Understanding Your Grade of Brain TumorBefore your doctor can recommend a treatment plan, he or she needs to know the grade of the cancer. The grade tells these things about the tumor.How malignant it isHow likely it is that the cancer will spread...
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Types of Brain TumorsThere are many types of brain tumors, including primary and secondary brain tumors.Primary brain tumorsare named by the type of brain tissue in which they are found. The most common primary brain tumors aregliomas, which begin...
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Coping With the Cognitive Effects of Brain TumorsElaine learned she had a tumor deep within her brain. After recovering from brain surgery, Elaine started getting lost on short trips to the grocery store--the same store she’d been driving to for y...
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I’ve Just Been Told I Have a Brain TumorA brain tumor is a type of cancer. And there are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer.
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Brain Tumors: Team Members and Common TermsThe members of your health care team will work with you during the course of your treatment. They help guide you through your treatment choices, address your questions and concerns, and give you support.
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Brain Tumors: Emotional IssuesAdjusting to your diagnosis and treatment can be hard for both you and your loved ones. It will take time.
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Tell Your Healthcare Team How You Feel During Treatment for a Brain TumorTreating your cancer to get the best results is important. But your quality of life also matters.
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Tips for Feeling Your Best During Treatment for a Brain TumorWhen you are being treated for a brain tumor, it is likely that you will have side effects. Depending on how advanced your cancer is, you may also have symptoms of the disease.
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What to Know About Surgery for Brain TumorsSurgery is usually the first step in treating a brain tumor. For this treatment, you see a doctor who specializes in surgery on the brain or nerves, called aneurosurgeon.
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Medications for a Brain TumorBrain tumors often cause symptoms. Also, your treatment is likely to produce some side effects.
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Brain TumorsThe brain controls the body. Each part of the brain has a role.
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Tips for People With Brain TumorsBrain tumors can affect your ability to think, remember, reason, and concentrate. Follow these tips to improve your quality of life and reduce frustration.Become very organized.Lay out clothing ahead of time.Keep a...
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What Can I Do to Prevent a Brain Tumor if I’m At Risk?Because no one knows what causes brain tumors, it is hard to say what will prevent them.
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Am I At Risk for a Brain Tumor?Certain factors can make one person more likely to get a brain tumor than another person.
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What to Know About Your Treatment Choices for Brain TumorsResearchers are finding new treatments for brain tumors. People with brain tumors now have more hope for living longer than ever before.People with brain tumors are often overwhelmed with t...
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Types of Treatment for Brain TumorsDifferent types of brain tumor treatments have different goals. Here is a list of treatments and their goals.Surgery.
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What Are the Symptoms of a Brain Tumor?Brain tumor symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor.
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Statistics About Brain TumorsSome people use statistical reports to try to figure out their chance of getting cancer or of being cured. Remember that statistics show what happens with large groups of people.
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What Are the Survival Rates for People With Brain Tumors?Survival rates show the percentage of people with a certain type and stage of cancer who survive it for a certain period of time after they are diagnosed.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Brain TumorHere are some frequently asked questions about brain tumors.Q: What is the brain, and how does it work?A: The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.
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What to Know About Chemotherapy for Brain TumorsChemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs are made to attack and kill cells that divide rapidly.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of various childhood brain tumors.
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Potential Side Effects of Chemotherapy for a Brain TumorSide effects of chemotherapy depend on the type and amount of drugs you take and the length of your treatment. Because chemotherapy drugs kill rapidly dividing cells, the drugs can damage hea...
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Detailed information on brain tumors, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, types, and treatment
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Detailed information on brain tumors, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, types, and treatment
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Cocaine: Understanding Its EffectsCocaine is a powerful drug that overstimulates the central nervous system and produces an artificial euphoria. Use can create a harmful dependency that affects behavior and multiplies health risks.
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Cocaine use ranges from occasional to compulsive. There is no safe way to use the drug.
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I have two foster children ages 7 and 8. Their mother is a cocaine addict. What type of developmental problems could happen because of this? We already see anger and frustration issues.
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Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions. A seizure is a sudden disruption of the brain ' s normal electrical activity accompanied by altered consciousness and/or other neurological and behavioral manifestations.
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Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving recurrent seizures .
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Epilepsy is a chronic (persistent) disorder of the nervous system. The primary symptoms of this disease are periodic or recurring seizures that are triggered by sudden episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
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Epilepsy is a chronic (persistent) disorder of the nervous system. The primary symptoms of this disease are periodic or recurring seizures that are triggered by sudden episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
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A seizure is a sudden disruption of the brain ' s normal electrical activity accompanied by altered consciousness and/or other neurological and behavioral manifestations. Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
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Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a term that refers to a condition where seizures are generated in the portion of the brain called the temporal lobe. Either the right or the left temporal lobe can be involved, and in rare cases both temporal lobes can be involved in a particular individual.
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A seizure is a sudden disruption of the brain's normal electrical activity accompanied by an alteration in consciousness or other neurological and behavioral manifestations. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
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A seizure is a sudden disruption of the brain ' s normal electrical activity accompanied by altered consciousness and/or other neurological and behavioral manifestations. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
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A condition affecting people regardless of age, sex, or race, where a pattern of recurring malfunctioning of the brain is present. Epilepsy, from the Greek word for seizure, is a recurrent demonstration of a brain malfunction.
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Detailed information on epilepsy and seizures, including how pregnancy affects epilepsy
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Although not a psychiatric disorder, epilepsy has a psychiatric aspect. The link is manifested in similar, often overlapping, symptoms, so it is important that caregivers diagnose and treat their patients with care.
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The words " epilepsy " and " epileptic " are of Greek origin and have the same root as the verb " epilambanein, " which means " to seize " or " to attack. " Therefore, epilepsy means seizure, while epileptic means seized.
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People with certain mental conditions can experience seizures that appear to be epilepsy but are actually psychogenic seizures. Studies are finding ways to distinguish between the two types to facilitate proper treatment.
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A head injury is any trauma that leads to injury of the scalp, skull, or brain. These injuries can range from a minor bump on the skull to a devastating brain injury. Head injury can be classified as either closed or penetrating. In a closed head injury, the head sustains a blunt force by striking against an object. A concussion is a type of closed head injury that involves the brain. In a penetrating head injury, an object breaks through the skull and enters the brain. (This object is usually moving at a high speed like a windshield or another part of a motor vehicle.)
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Detailed information on head injury, including causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on head injury, including causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on head injury, including causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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Head Trauma (Traumatic Brain Injury)Head trauma can be fatal. The effects from some types of head trauma may not appear right away.
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Detailed information on superficial injuries to the face and head
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My 4-month-old was hit in the head. It did not cause a big bruise, but then two hours after the incident he threw up twice. In this case should an infant be watched or taken to the emergency room?
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First Aid: Head InjuriesA strong blow to the head may cause swelling and bleeding inside the skull. The resulting pressure can injure the brain(concussion).If you have any doubts identifying a concussion, have a healthcare provider check the victi...
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Children hit their heads frequently. Most of the time, the injury is minor, usually involving only the scalp, and nothing needs to be done. Sometimes, the injury is more serious, involving the skull and/or brain inside, and medical attention is required.
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Injury to the head may damage the scalp, skull or brain. The most important consequence of head trauma is traumatic brain injury.
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Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by low blood sugar, or abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood. Hypoglycemia (also known as a hypo, insulin shock, and a low) is brought on by abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood (i.
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Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar, called glucose, is abnormally low. The term insulin shock is used to describe severe hypoglycemia that results in unconsciousness .
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Too little glucose (sugar) in your blood is called hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Diabetes itself doesn't cause low blood sugar. But some of the treatments for diabetes, such as pills or insulin, may put you at risk for it.
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The condition called hypoglycemia is literally translated as low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar (or blood glucose) concentrations fall below a level necessary to properly support the body ' s need for energy and stability throughout its cells.
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Detailed information on hypoglycemia, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on hypoglycemia in the newborn, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Detailed information on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on hypoglycemia, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Detailed information on hypoglycemia, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on hypoglycemia, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Hypoglycemia, or abnormally low blood sugar, is caused by the impaired response (or failure) of the liver to release glucose as blood sugar levels decrease. The imbalance in the rate of glucose released from the liver and its use by other body tissues can result in the following hypoglycemic symptoms: hunger, nervousness, dizziness, confusion, sleepiness, difficulty speaking, feeling anxious or weak, irritability, sweating, loss of consciousness, and increased blood pressure .
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Abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood. Hypoglycemia, or insulin shock, is brought on by abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood.
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Can hypoglycemia eventually turn into diabetes?
Mary Pickett, M.D., is a lecturer for Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. At OHSU, she practices general internal medicine and teaches medical residents and students.
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The following Clinical Topic Tour provides an overview of meningitis and was adapted from materials published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Meningitis is a serious inflammation of the meninges, the membranes (lining) that surround the brain and spinal cord. It can be of bacterial, viral, or fungal origin.
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Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Non-bacterial meningitis is often referred to as "aseptic meningitis." Bacterial meningitis may be referred to as "purulent meningitis."
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Detailed information on meningitis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Meningitis is the most common serious manifestation of infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Inflammatory involvement of the subarachnoid space with meningeal irritation leads to the classic triad of headache, fever and meningism, and to a pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
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An inflammation of the meninges, most often caused by infection. Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, membranes which encase the brain and spinal cord.
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A new vaccine can help head off meningococcal meningitis for 11- and 12-year-olds, teens entering high school and college freshmen in dormitories.
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A vaccination for meningitis is extremely safe and may be prudent for college students, who are at high risk for contracting the bacteria.
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Bacterial meningitis Epidemiology and microbiology: the overall annual incidence of bacterial meningitis is about 2?3/100,000, with peaks of incidence in infants and adolescents. Integration of vaccines into the UK vaccination programme against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and more recently against group C meningococccus has led to a marked decline in cases of Hib and Group C meningococcal meningitis and has significantly reduced the overall incidence of bacterial meningitis.
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Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis is most commonly caused by infection (by bacteria, viruses, or fungi), although it can also be caused by bleeding into the meninges, cancer , diseases of the immune system, and an inflammatory response to certain types of chemotherapy or other chemical agents.
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Detailed information on meningitis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
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Although the word meningitis suggests an inflammation of the meninges only, there is always some involvement of the most superficial parts of the brain that are contiguous to the meninges. Often there are also alterations in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
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Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis is most commonly caused by infection by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, although it can also be caused by bleeding into the meninges, cancer , diseases of the immune system, and an inflammatory response to certain types of chemotherapy or other chemical agents.
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Most cases of viral meningitis occur in children under 5 years of age. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often goes away without treatment. It is much less serious than bacterial meningitis.
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Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord . Meningitis is most commonly caused by infection ( bacteria , viruses , or fungi ), although it can also be caused by bleeding into the meninges, cancer , diseases of the immune system , and an inflammatory response to certain types of chemotherapy or other chemical agents.
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Detailed information on meningitis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Encephalitis is an acute inflammatory process that affects brain tissue and is almost always accompanied by inflammation of the adjacent meninges (tissues lining the brain). There are many types of encephalitis, most of which are caused by viral infections.
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Detailed information on meningitis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Detailed information on meningitis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Can you get meningitis more then once?
Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.
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The following Clinical Topic Tour provides an overview of stroke and was adapted from materials published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells in a localized area due to inadequate blood flow. A stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain.
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A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack."
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Symptoms of a StrokeDuring a stroke, blood stops flowing to part of the brain. This can damage areas in the brain that control the rest of the body.
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A stroke is an interruption of blood circulation to the brain causing a neurologic deficit reflecting the area of the brain affected. Stroke can be ischemic or hemorrhagic. 1 Ischemic stroke is most prevalent.
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Stroke is an increasing public health concern throughout the world as the leading cause of long-term disability. There is estimated to be over 3.5 million survivors of stroke in the United States.
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A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells in a localized area due to inadequate blood flow. A stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain.
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This report provides current information about stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
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Detailed information on stroke, also called brain attack, including how to respond in a stroke emergency
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Detailed information on a stroke's effects on different portions of the brain
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Detailed information on stroke, also called brain attack, including history, statistics, symptoms, types, effects, diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation information
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