Category: Neurology

The body’s nervous system is made up of two major parts, the central nervous system, and the peripheral nervous system. These two parts of the nervous system act jointly to assure your body is communicating all of its sensory information and needs. The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system each play different roles in controlling your body’s functions.

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain, cerebellum  and the spinal cord

The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord directs signals from the brain to the body and is capable of controlling simple reflexes without transmitting information from the brain. 

The Brain

The brain processes most of the body’s sensory information and is responsible for coordinating conscious and unconscious body functions including feeling, thinking, and maintaining homeostasis, which is the body’s ability to maintain a stable environment. The brain is made up of three regions, the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain. 

• The Forebrain: The forebrain works to process the information needed to complete complex cognitive tasks. The parts of the forebrain are responsible for sensory functions, voluntary motor skills, speech, and critical thinking. It also controls homeostasis which is maintained through regulation of body temperature, blood pressure, pleasure, pain, hunger, and thirst as well as hormone production. 
• The Midbrain: The midbrain connects the forebrain and the hindbrain and carries the important job of connecting the brain to the spinal cord. It processes sounds and sights and works to control the movement of the eye.
• The Hindbrain: The hindbrain is responsible for muscular movement, respiratory rhythm, heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, and staying alert while awake. Involuntary reflexes like sneezing and swallowing are also controlled by the parts of the hindbrain.

Peripheral Nervous System

Nerves make up the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which works to send signals to and from the CNS, the body’s organs, muscles, and senses. The PNS is broken into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Somatic Nervous System

The somatic nervous system is made up of motor neurons and sensory neurons that help the body perform voluntary activities. 

Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system is made of neurons that work to connect the CNS with the body’s internal organs. It is divided into two parts, the sympathetic nervous system, and the parasympathetic nervous system.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The sympathetic nervous system stimulates what is known as the fight or flight response in the body. It prepares the body’s energy for stressful or energy-exerting activities.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, works to conserve energy. It signals the body to conserve its energy while it sleeps and relaxes.

See a Neurologist

Regional Neurological Associates has reopened with your safety in mind and we are seeing patients in-office. Our current office hours are: Monday – Friday from 9 am – 4 pm. If you have questions or concerns about your neurological health, call us at (718) 515-4347 to make an appointment. We are also pleased to announce that same-day appointments are now available.

We do ask that patients experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, or shortness of breath reschedule your appointment or schedule a telemedicine appointment. Please contact our office to change your in-person visit to a Telehealth visit (718) 515-4347. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

Neurological symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or cognitive impairment may have many possible causes. If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to consult a neurologist. Sometimes they can be a side effect of something simple, but other times they can indicate a more serious problem. So, it’s better to be safe and get a medical opinion. For now, check out the possible causes of some common neurological symptoms.

1. Headaches

Headaches may be a symptom of many conditions, not all of them neurological. The International Headache Society breaks headache disorders into two categories: primary headache disorders and secondary headache disorders. Primary headache disorders are based on symptoms and secondary headache disorders are based on their causes. Many people experience headaches, but if they are recurrent and severe you should contact a neurologist. Some causes of headaches include:

• Migraine
• Head injury
• Brain tumor
• Strained eyes
• Neck or back strain

2. Muscle Weakness

Muscle weakness is when your muscles don’t move or contract at full strength when you’re putting full effort into the action. It may also be described as reduced muscle strength. Weakness may occur when you’re fatigued or due to overusing muscles during an intense workout. However, persistent muscle weakness may be a neurological symptom of:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Stroke
• Herniated disk
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Neuralgia
• Peripheral neuropathy

3. Seizures

A seizure is a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, feelings, or movements. It can also affect levels of consciousness. There are several types of seizures with symptoms that depend on where in the brain they begin. Having recurrent seizures may be an indicator of epilepsy. Conditions that can cause seizures include:

• Epilepsy
• Stroke
• Brain tumor
• Head trauma

4. Impaired Sensation

Impaired sensation is a feeling of numbness or loss of sensation in one or more body parts. Sometimes this is due to a physical injury but it can be a neurological symptom as well. Neurological conditions that may cause impaired sensation include:

• Head injury
• Brain tumor
• Stroke
• Peripheral neuropathy

5. Dizziness

Dizziness used to describe sensations of faintness, weakness, or unsteadiness. It can also create a false sense of motion or spinning, which is a sign of vertigo. Dizziness is a common neurological symptom but it may be caused by a condition not related to the nervous system. Possible causes of dizziness include:

• Migraine 
• Middle ear problems
• Motion sickness
• Side effects of medication

6. Tremors

A Tremor is a rhythmical movement of an arm, leg, or another body part. They may come and go throughout the day and become more violent or change in speed over time. Possible neurological causes of tremor include:

• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Traumatic brain injury

7. Slurred Speech

Slurred speech is a neurological symptom that can include mumbling, poor pronunciation, or changes in speed or rhythm while someone is talking. Slurred speech may be caused by alcohol or drug intoxication, but it also may be a neurological symptom of:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Bell’s palsy
• Cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy
• Parkinson’s disease

8. Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive impairment describes the decline of mental capabilities like thinking, memory, judgment, and language. Cognitive decline happens gradually with age, but it can also be a symptom of a neurological condition such as:

• Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease)
• Depression or psychiatric disorders
• Head injury
• Brain tumor

9. Vision Problems

Some vision problems are neurological symptoms rather than problems with the eyes. Symptoms like blurred vision, light sensitivity, reduced vision, or spotty visions can be associated with neurological problems like:

• Migraine
• Multiple sclerosis
• Brain tumor
• Optic neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease

Regional Neurological Associates is happy to report we are reopening to see patients in-office to evaluate neurological symptoms. Patients can now make same-day appointments and expect to be treated with the best care and attention. Our current office hours are: Monday – Friday from 9 am – 4 pm. If you have questions or concerns about your neurological health, call us at (718) 515-4347 to make an appointment.

While we are pleased to be seeing patients in the office again, we ask that anyone experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, or shortness of breath reschedule your appointment or schedule a telemedicine appointment.  Please contact our office to change your in-person visit to a Telehealth visit (718) 515-4347.