Nervous System Disorder Symptoms

The nervous system is an integral part of the body that allows it to respond to stimulus. The nervous system controls thought, movement and organ function. Nervous system disorders are referred as neurological disorders. They can be genetic, caused by disease or drug use, or from damage to nervous tissue. Neurological disorders are sometimes degenerative, meaning they cause slow damage over time, destroying the quality of life of the patient.

Vascular

• Nervous system disorders can be caused by vascular conditions. For instance, a stroke is blockage of blood in the brain through an embolism or blood vessel damage. When the brain loses blood to its cells, paralysis and sometimes death occur. A hematoma is another form of vascular damage to the brain. A hematoma is a clot that forms from trauma. Blood accumulates in the area of damage and pushes the brain against the skull. This causes headaches, vision loss, dizziness and sometimes death.

Infections

• The brain has a barrier called the blood-brain barrier. This obstacle protects it from infection from microbes such as viruses, bacteria or fungi. Occasionally, secondary infection to the meninges from diseases such as strep throat or pneumonia occur. The meninges form a membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain. An infection of the tissue is called meningitis. Meningitis symptoms are headache, vomiting, dizziness and vision loss. Bacterial meningitis is a serious condition that requires medical care.

Structural

• Genetics may also play a role in some nervous system disorders. Genetic mutations that cause malformation of certain parts of the brain cause disease that is usually permanent. Once type of structural condition is Bell's palsy. The main symptom of Bell's palsy is the sudden onset of facial paralysis on once side of the face. Another type of disease is peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is the degeneration of peripheral nerves. The most common symptom is loss of muscle control.

Functional

• Functional diseases of the nervous system are conditions like epilepsy, chronic headaches and dizziness. These diseases are function in that the condition is caused by malfunctioning of the brain. For instance, epilepsy is a form of chronic seizures. Patients have "storms" of electrical activity that cause muscle contraction, loss of control and twitching.

Degeneration

• Degeneration of the nervous system is the most traumatic and severe. Degeneration usually leads to death in most patients. Degenerative diseases include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. These diseases cause cell death and loss of functions including memory, behavior, hallucinations and dementia. These diseases also cause the patient to lose muscle control.