An Active Brain makes a stronger person. Here are 10 Most Effective Ways to enhance your mind functioning

Stimulate your mind

Cognitive stimulation helps in regeneration of brain cells, further developing neurological “plasticity” and also preventing cell loss. Perform activities such as reading, painting, or playing instruments, that require both physical and mental work to help stimulate your mind.

Exercise

Whether it is the hectic everyday life or simpe lethargy that stops you from exercising, you are indirectly affecting your mental strength as well. Muscle movements can help your mind and being inactive can hamper the efficiency, plasticity, and adaptive potential of your brain. 

Eat healthy

Having a healthy diet and keeping your body adequately nourished will lead to a stronger and better mind. Include fruits, fish, nuts, unsaturated oils, and proteins from various plant sources, helping you develop mental cognition, and reduce the risk of conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc, suggest diet experts at AMRI Hospitals, the best neurology hospital in Kolkata.

Keep your cholesterol under control

Research shows that high cholesterol (LDL) can increase the risk of dementia. Maintaining cholesterol levels through exercise, diet or even medications can enhance your mental activity.

Avoid alcohol and tobacco

Alcohol and tobacco are related to accelerating physical and mental stress. Therefore, such substances should be avoided.

Avoid stress and rumination

For people suffering from anxiety, depression or any other form of mental trauma, therapies such as CBT can help in supporting their mental, social and psychological well-being.

Ensure adequate  amount of sleep

Sleeping for at least 7-8 hours a day helps your brain work quicker and more accurately. Also note that sleeping in excess is as bad as not having adequate sleep. Sleeping is essential for your brain as it also sieves out harmful toxins.

Meditate

The most effective way to rejuvenate your brain and relax your overall body is by meditating regularly. Meditation also reduces stress levels, makes you think more clearly and helps strengthen your brain’s ability to focus.

Laugh more often

Laughter therapy is said to be the best way to keep your brain function effective. The release of endorphins boosts the overall immune system, and energy level, besides helping to reduce stress and trigger positive effects on your body.

Keep learning new things

Keep learning new things as it helps keep specific areas of your brain working, making it more flexible.
These are some of the best ways to care for your mental health and lead a healthier, positive life. Follow these tips to help stimulate effective brain functioning, keeping yourself more active and focused.

Neurological Disorders – A Common Problem of Aging

As we age, all of us notice changes in our hair, skin and joints that let us know we are getting older. Along with these visible changes, our brains and central nervous system are going through the aging process too. This is one reason you are more likely to suffer from a neurological problem after the age of 65.

Some of the more common neurological disorders that affect seniors include strokes, neuropathy, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Chances are, you know someone who has dealt with one of these medical problems.

If you believe you are suffering from a neurological issue, the first step is being assessed by a neurologist. During your appointment, you will be asked a series of questions to learn more about your condition, and possibly undergo some neurological testing. Fortunately, many disorders of the brain and nervous system can be successfully treated and the different treatments doctors utilize are constantly improving.

Visit AMRI  Hospitals Best Neurology Hospitals in Kolkata

These are some of the more common neurological disorders you are likely to encounter:

Neuropathy – This nerve disorder causes symptoms such as numbness and weakness, often affecting the hands and feet. It can be the result of systemic diseases such as diabetes, as well as medications and other causes.

Alzheimer’s disease – A form of dementia, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys cells in the brain and ultimately interferes with a person’s most basic mental and physical functions. The exact cause is still unknown.

Parkinson’s disease – A chronic and progressive movement disorder, Parkinson’s disease involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain. Treatment options include medication and surgery to manage symptoms.

Myopathy – A disorder of the muscles, myopathy is characterized by muscle weakness that is usually the most severe in the upper arms and thighs.

Stroke – This dangerous, life-threatening event occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Warning signs include face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty.

Myasthenia Gravis – A chronic autoimmune disorder, this disease blocks the signals from the nerves to the muscles and makes the muscles unable to move. A key indication of the disease is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest.

Muscular Dystrophy – A group of progressive muscle disorders that has a genetic basis. Symptoms begin with a weakening of the muscles closest to the trunk of the body and later progress to severe muscle deterioration and muscle contraction.

Can neurological disorders be prevented?

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to minimize your chances of a neurological disorder. The first step is controlling risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and lack of exercise which can contribute to stroke, and possibly other neurological issues, consult doctors at AMRI Hospitals, best hospitals in kolkata. Even if you do suffer from a neurological problem  when you get older, the healthier you are the better able you will be able to deal with it.

5 Daily Habits to Keep Your Brain Healthy

To maintain a healthy brain comes down to a number of life changes, but there are many daily habits people can get into that keep their brains healthy.

1. Change your diet

Dieting is a major trend in modern society, but most people diet to drop a few pounds. But those diets affect the brains in often negative ways. Changing the intake of certain carbohydrates and drinking more water can result in better brain health.

2. Exercise

When schedules get busy, one of the first things that gets ignored is exercise. The doctors of AMRI Hospitals, stresses the importance of exercise in reducing stress on the brain, increasing the flow of oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the brain and ultimately protecting it against harmful spikes in sugar levels.

3. Kill ANTs

The one of the most dangerous things to the brain are automatic negative thoughts, or ANTs. Negative thoughts happen to everyone, but letting them fester in the mind is a surefire way to harm your brain. AMRI Hospitals, best neurology hospital in Kolkata  experts offers a number of strategies for taking down these ANTs, most notably questioning the thought intensely to identify how it makes you feel and how you can overturn that feeling by changing the perspective on that thought.

4. Spend time with positive people

Removing negativity triggers chemical alterations to the brain that lead to more positive and energized thought. Taking stock of whom you spend time with and spending more time with positive people will keep your brain healthy and make you more productive and happy.

5. Learn something new every day

Einstein once said that if people spent 15 minutes a day learning something new, in a year they would be an expert and in five they’d be a national expert. The doctors of AMRI Hospitals, agrees and notes that learning new things breaks up routine and keeps the brain revitalized and stimulated.

What Are the Symptoms of a Brain Tumor in Adults?

Symptoms of brain tumors vary according to the type of tumor and the location. Because different areas of the brain control different functions of the body, where the tumor lies affects the way symptoms are manifested.

Some tumors have no symptoms until they are quite large and then cause a serious, rapid decline in health. Other tumors may have symptoms that develop slowly.

A common initial symptom of a brain tumor is headaches. Often, they don’t respond to the usual headache remedies. Keep in mind that most headaches are unrelated to brain tumors.

Other symptoms include:

Seizures
Changes in speech or hearing
Changes in vision
Balance problems
Problems with walking
Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
Problems with memory
Personality changes
Inability to concentrate
Weakness in one part of the body

It’s important to keep in mind that these symptoms can be caused by a number of different conditions. Don’t assume you have a brain tumor just because you experience some of them. Check with your doctor atAMRI Hospitals, the best neurology hospital in Kolkata.

How Are Brain Tumors Diagnosed?

To diagnose a brain tumor, the doctor starts by asking questions about your symptoms and taking a personal and family health history. Then he or she performs a physical exam, including a neurological exam. If there’s reason to suspect a brain tumor, the doctor may request one or more of the following tests:

1. Imaging studies such as a CT(CAT) scan or MRI to see detailed images of the brain
2. Angiogram or MRA, which involve the use of dye and X-rays of blood vessels in the brain to look for signs of a tumor or abnormal blood vessels.

The doctor may also ask for a biopsy to determine whether or not the tumor is cancer. A tissue sample is removed from the brain either during surgery to remove the tumor or with a needle inserted through a small hole drilled into the skull before treatment is started. The sample is then sent to a lab for testing.

Kidney Failure Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

Kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease, is the last stage of chronic kidney disease. When your kidneys fail, it means they have stopped working well enough for you to survive without dialysis or a kidney transplant.

• What causes kidney failure?
• Symptoms of chronic kidney disease
• Treatment of kidney failure
• New to dialysis
• Adjusting to kidney failure
• Complications of kidney failure
• Disaster preparedness
• Kidney failure

What causes kidney failure?

In most cases, kidney failure is caused by other health problems that have done permanent damage (harm) to your kidneys little by little, over time.

When your kidneys are damaged, they may not work as well as they should. If the damage to your kidneys continues to get worse and your kidneys are less and less able to do their job, you have chronic kidney disease. Kidney failure is the last (most severe) stage of chronic kidney disease. This is why kidney failure is also called end-stage renal disease, or ESRD for short.

Diabetes is the most common cause of ESRD. High blood pressure is the second most common cause of ESRD. Other problems that can cause kidney failure include:

• Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and IgA nephropathy
• Genetic diseases (diseases you are born with), such as polycystic kidney disease
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Urinary tract problems

Sometimes the kidneys can stop working very suddenly (within two days). This type of kidney failure is called acute kidney injury or acute renal failure. Common causes of acute renal failure include:

• Heart attack
• Illegal drug use and drug abuse
• Not enough blood flowing to the kidneys
• Urinary tract problems

This type of kidney failure is not always permanent. Your kidneys may go back to normal or almost normal with treatment and if you do not have other serious health problems.

Having one of the health problems that can lead to kidney failure does not mean that you will definitely have kidney failure. Living a healthy lifestyle and working with your doctor to control these health problems can help your kidneys work for as long as possible.

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) usually gets worse slowly, and symptoms may not appear until your kidneys are badly damaged. In the late stages of CKD, as you are nearing kidney failure (ESRD), you may notice symptoms that are caused by waste and extra fluid building up in your body.

You may notice one or more of the following symptoms if your kidneys are beginning to fail:

• Itching
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Not feeling hungry
• Swelling in your feet and ankles
• Too much urine (pee) or not enough urine
• Trouble catching your breath
• Trouble sleeping

If your kidneys stop working suddenly (acute kidney failure), you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Back pain
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Nosebleeds
• Rash
• Vomiting

Having one or more of any of the symptoms above may be a sign of serious kidney problems. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor right away.

Treatment of kidney failure

If you have kidney failure (end-stage renal disease or ESRD), you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. There is no cure for ESRD, but many people live long lives while on dialysis or after having a kidney transplant.

There are just a few options for treating kidney failure, including kidney transplant and several types of dialysis. Your doctor can help you figure out which treatment is best for you. Consult AMRI Hospitals, Best Nephrology Hospital in Kolkata

Eastern India Intensifies Dengue Surveillance

Dengue has widened its grip across India in the last couple of years. The number of deaths resulting from outbreaks of this disease has been increasing, especially in densely-populated areas of the country.

More than half the Indian states were affected by the deadly disease in 2017. Delhi, Maharasthra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala were the worst-affected regions. To address the dengue situation in Eastern India, primarily West Bengal, AMRI Hospitals in Kolkata has started an awareness campaign on social media, with the tag #AMRIagainstDengue, as well as created adequate medical facilities to address patients afflicted with the disease.

The disease, which hits its peak between July and November, has a lot of serious implications not just for the health of individuals but also for healthcare facilities. This year as well, the conditions are pointing towards a possible outbreak in Eastern India. However, the government administration as well as private healthcare enterprises like AMRI have created a buffer to counter the disease at the very ground level. In addition to the mobile care units in Kolkata by the West Bengal government, there also has been sufficient awareness initiative in the region to combat the very basic problems associated with Dengue.

On that line, AMRI has been particularly proactive with their social channels — publishing news, social posts and campaigns. In addition to their social work, AMRI Hospital Dhakuria has also planned to organize an Anti-Dengue month throughout August. Doctors at AMRI Hospitals have also geared up to combat any critical situation.

The spurt in dengue cases in the twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has belied the claims of the civic administrations of maintaining cleanliness. Apart from the poor sanitation, prolonged monsoon and low-pressure rains have also added to the woes.

Here are a few facts you must know in order to beat dengue –

Aedesaegypti mosquitoes are responsible for spreading dengue. They breed in stagnant, fresh water. When the mosquito bites a person, the virus is passed into the blood stream, causing complications.

A person only gets symptoms after 7 to 10 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. It causes severe joint pain, nausea, abdominal cramps, fever, bleeding from gums, nose or ear.

Some patients also develop hemorrhagic fever that may cause death from shock or even cause multiple-organ failure. These complications make it a deadly disease.

In the last few years, dengue outbreaks were reported from a number of countries across the tropics, putting 3.5 billion people at risk of infection.

Around 390 million people get infected with dengue in more than 100 countries. Children and the elderly are more vulnerable to this disease.

According to the medical practitioners at AMRI Hospitals, early management of symptoms can prevent complications. People often get treated symptomatically, which is good.

There is a need to get tested if symptoms last for 2–3 days or get worse with every minute. Although dengue has no cure, the symptoms can be managed if things are controlled at the earliest.

SOURCE: yourwellness4life.com

Frequent headaches, mood swings, nausea: Don’t ignore these common symptoms of Brain Cancer

Brain Tumour is a severe medical condition, which disrupts the proper functioning of the brain. It refers to the growth of abnormal cells within the brain. The risk of brain tumours increases with age, say leading neurologists and oncologists at AMRI Hospital, one of the top multispecialty hospitals in Kolkata. It also ranks among the best neurology hospitals in Kolkata.

The cancer cells growing in the brain have a major impact on various vital functions, like memory, muscle control, sensation, etc.

Though, there is no certain cause of brain cancer, a few factors increase its risk, such as:

·Being exposed to ionizing radiation, for example, radiation exposure caused by atomic bombs

·Genetic disorders like Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Von Hippel-Lindau disease and Neurofibromatosis (NF1 and NF2). Though, these disorders are quiet rare, they increase the risk of brain cancer to a great extent

Types of Brain Cancer

Based on the causes and symptoms, brain tumours are divided into two parts: benign and malignant.

·Benign brain tumours

Such tumours in the brain do not contain cancer cells and usually grow slowly. Benign tumours have a clear border or edge, and do not spread into other brain cells or any body part. However, they can pose a threat to the sensitive areas of the brain and can lead to serious health issues in some few cases. Neurologists at AMRI Hospitals warn that such tumours can also become malignant and prove to be life threatening.

·Malignant brain tumours

Malignant brain tumours are considered perilous as they contain cancer cells. Having no clear borders, they tend to spread to other parts of the brain.

Symptoms of Brain Cancer

There are a number of early warning signs that indicate the risk of brain cancer. Some of the most common ones include:

· Frequent headaches (often in the morning) without any known cause

· Confusion or inability to understand

· Nausea and vomiting

· Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs

· Inability to talk, hear, or see properly

· Weakness and dizziness

· Issues related to memory

· Problems related to balancing, walking or coordination

· Frequent mood swings

· Seizures

· Loss of consciousness

· Problems related to vision (loss of vision in one or both eyes)

It is important to note that the above mentioned symptoms don’t necessarily indicate brain cancer. They can also be caused due to various other reasons. But you should consult a doctor in case you experience any of these symptoms, say experts at AMRI Hospitals.

Diagnosis and treatment of Brain Cancer

Brain tumours are detected using a number of tests like MRI, CT scan, and biopsy, along with a neurological exam. The treatment is based on the type, location, and size of the tumour, as well as the health, and age of the patient. Most commonly used treatment options include watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. AMRI Hospitals also ranks among the best neurology hospitals in Kolkata.

The severity of brain cancer makes it important to keep a check on its symptoms, and ensure timely treatment in order to control the damage.

SOURCE: munplanet.com