Think snoring is always harmless? In many people, occasional snoring is simply an annoyance. But frequent, loud snoring—especially when accompanied by pauses in breathing, choking, or gasping—can be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea repeatedly interrupts breathing during sleep and can prevent you from getting the...
Does the room seem to spin when you turn your head, roll over in bed, or get up in the morning? You may be experiencing positional vertigo, a common type of dizziness often triggered by specific head movements. Although episodes may last only a few seconds, recurring vertigo can interfere...
Seeing two images instead of one can be confusing and sometimes frightening. Double vision, also called diplopia, can come from problems within the eyes, but it may also involve the nerves, muscles, brainstem, or other parts of the nervous system. New or unexplained double vision should not be ignored, especially...
Feeling unusually unsteady, frequently stumbling, or having difficulty coordinating your hands and legs may sometimes be related to ataxia. Ataxia is not one specific disease. It describes problems with coordination that can affect walking, balance, hand movements, speech, swallowing, and even eye movements. It can develop gradually or appear suddenly...
Muscle weakness that becomes worse as the day goes on or after repeated activity may sometimes be more than ordinary fatigue. One neurological condition that can cause this pattern is myasthenia gravis, a disorder that affects communication between nerves and muscles. Quick Answer: What Is Myasthenia Gravis? Myasthenia gravis is...
The brain and nervous system control movement, sensation, balance, memory, speech, vision, and many other functions. When something is not working normally, the body may provide warning signs—but those symptoms are not always obvious. Recurring headaches, unexplained numbness, tremors, balance problems, or changes in memory may sometimes indicate that a...
Peripheral nerve entrapment occurs when a nerve outside the brain and spinal cord becomes compressed or irritated. This can cause numbness, tingling, burning pain, weakness, or difficulty using the affected hand, arm, leg, or foot. Some cases improve with simple changes, while persistent or worsening symptoms may need neurological evaluation....
An EEG may be recommended when someone experiences seizures, unexplained loss of consciousness, staring episodes, unusual movements, or other symptoms that could involve abnormal brain activity. The test can provide valuable information about how the brain is functioning, but many patients are unsure what an EEG actually measures or what...
Sudden changes in vision can be alarming. Blurred vision, double vision, flashing lights, loss of part of the visual field, or temporary vision loss may come from the eyes themselves—but sometimes the brain, optic nerves, or other parts of the nervous system are involved. Because some neurological causes of vision...
Pain that begins in your neck and travels into your shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers may be more than simple muscle soreness. In some cases, these symptoms develop when a nerve in the cervical spine becomes irritated or compressed. This condition is commonly known as a pinched nerve in the...
