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Meditation Improves Brain Health

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Monday, April 30th, 2018

Meditation is a technique that improves brain health and your overall quality of life. The practice of meditation is not as popular as it should be! Meditation induces relaxation in the body and redirects your mind to focus and create better thoughts. Some use this technique to reduce stress and improve concentration. Many people who mediate benefit greatly from it from a mental and cardiovascular stand point.

Benefits of Meditation

  • Reduces Stress
  • Improves Concentration
  • Creates balance
  • Encourages healthy living
  • Increase overall happiness
  • Induces relaxation throughout body

    • Meditation and the Brain

    As mentioned above, meditation can be very beneficial towards the health of your brain. Your brain needs behaviors that help it stay balanced. Just like your body, it needs exercise, nutrition and care to keep it healthy. If you have never tried meditation, it is generally a harmless activity. Whether you spend 15 minutes to 1 hour, it makes a huge difference in your quality of life.

    Meditation trains your mind similarly in the way that fitness workouts train your body to be stronger. At first, it can seem a little strange and difficult since you are sitting down and thinking. But in time, you will be able to train your mind, create balance and improve your concentration, starting with focusing on your breathing! Many people forget that brain health depends on your daily habits.

    While mediation isn’t the only way to give your brain a routine that will keep it healthy, it is a way that is often overlooked. The brain can undergo a lot of different emotions of stress, feelings of anxiety or depression, which can be decreased with a way of a more balanced atmosphere. Sometimes, we forget to breathe in the midst of all the stress and emotions. A simple meditation session can calm your body and mind.

    Meditation for Beginners

    Meditation is a physical activity in which you concentrate by sitting or lying down comfortably, closing your eyes and simply breathing. Below are simple tips for meditating if it’s your first time.

  • Start with a position you will be comfortable in, either sitting or laying down. You may want to consider a comfortable cushion!
  • Close your eyes and focus.
  • Deep breaths, naturally and do not control it.
  • Focus on nothing else except your breathing and your body movements along with it.
  • Should your mind wander, redirect and focus on your breathing again, continue for as long as you can.

    • There are many types of meditation but the most important thing to remember when giving it a try is to focus, embrace the silence, be comfortable in posture and to focus as much as you can. With these simple steps, you will feel a sense of relief and your brain will become much more relaxed. This technique is a great preventative care measure to promote and maintain a healthy brain and lifestyle.

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    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, Migraines, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief, Uncategorized
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    Prevention is Key

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Friday, April 20th, 2018

    Maintaining and improving your health is important in preventing your body and especially brain to encounter issues as you age. With preventive tips and care, maintaining a healthy brain is possible. The first step in giving your health the attention it needs is never avoiding symptoms. While not all symptoms should be taken too seriously, it is important to be aware of all types of symptoms. Making a consistent trip to the doctor for a check up is one way of confirming your health is where it needs to be.

    Prevention refers to the maintenance and care you are putting towards your wellness and overall health. Many people don’t pay attention to their health nor do they take preventive measures to ensure the healthiest life possible. Preventive care does not always refer to just physical activity. Physical activity is only one of the many ways to regularly maintain health. Working to be proactive towards your body and brain will help you as you age.

    Preventive Care Tips:

    Take precaution when the flu is in season & take care of yourself when you catch it. It is inevitable that we will get sick a few times a year. Most of the time, we get sick due to lack of vitamin c or other nutrients needed to keep our body strong against infectious bacteria. An easy way to prevent yourself from catching a cold is simply by making sure you are giving your body the nutrients it needs including: vegetables, fruits, and other healthy food options. When we are sick, sometimes we don’t give our bodies the opportunity to recover. Take a day off from work, cancel your weekend plans, whatever it takes to ensure your body is going to receive the rest it needs to recover and heal. Overworking your body while it is weak during a cold make your sickness worse and could lead to your body weakening as the time passes instead of strengthening.

    Change your Lifestyle Habits. When you’re young, you have more energy and think your body can withstand many things. While that is mostly true, it doesn’t happen without the help you. As you grow older, preventive measures matter more. Eating anything and sleeping however little hours and not caring about your body does not work anymore. Start making time to take care of yourself. Exercise is a naturally preventive care that helps both your physical body and your brain. Make it a priority to sleep at a reasonable time and a minimum of 7 to 8 hours. Not getting enough sleep can cause a lot of mental stress and can often lead to sleep disorders. Choose a few meals low in sugar, fats and cholesterol. This can help with preventing Alzheimer’s.

    Build social networks. Having strong ties with friends and family will help in lower blood pressure and keep you happier in your life. Most people de-stress by being around people. When you keep things bottled in, it can affect your mental health and cause you to trigger migraines and even sleep disorders.

    What risks can Preventive Care reduce?

    Preventive care can reduce chances of stroke, heart disease, memory loss and other neurological problems. Many people fear visiting a doctor, but visiting your Las Vegas Neurologist to ensure you are healthy will give you peace of mind and if there is something wrong, you will find out and take measures to treating it. Here at Silver State Neurology, we care about all your concerns, questions and overall well-being. Contact us today to address any of your concerns!

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    Categories : Blog, Brain Food, Brain Health, brain stress, Flu Season, Headaches, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Silver State Neurology, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief

    Migraines: When is it time to see a doctor?

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Friday, April 13th, 2018

    Migraines are large throbbing pains in the head and neck that is often very severe. Migraines can affect a specific side of the head and can be so bothersome that it causes nausea or vision impairments. The feeling is an intense pain pulsating that can cause vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. It is a neurological disorder that can involve the chemical activity in your brain, nerves or blood.

    It’s hard to tell how long migraines will last.  Some migraines can last a few hours and much more severe ones can last for days. The pain of a migraine can be disabling and prevent you from your daily activities and functions. Aura is a warning symptom that some people experience before a migraine. These can occur during the migraine as well.

    Migraines can be treated to prevent migraines and make them less painful. Talk to your Las Vegas Neurologist about your options to treat your migraines if you are having trouble finding relief.

    Symptoms of Migraines

    Migraines can often run in the family and it affects people of all ages. Migraines begin in childhood or in early adulthood for some people. If you have a family history of migraines, you are in risk of having it. Symptoms for migraines can be caught before you experience it. This is known as the prodrome stage. Symptoms to look out for during prodrome:

    • Food cravings
    • Mood changes such as depression
    • Fatigue and frequent yawning
    • Hyperactivity
    • Irritability
    • Neck stiffness
    • Constipation

    Aura

    Aura is a warning symptom that you can get after the prodrome stage and right before a migraine. Aura can cause problems in your vision, movement and even your speech. There are a lot of people who experience migraines with aura but if you experience these examples, it is likely you have migraine aura:

    • Difficulty speaking
    • Tingling sensations in body
    • Visualizing light flashes and/or bright spots
    • Vision loss
    • Body weakness or numbness

    Migraines vs. Headaches

    Headaches are pains in your head that involve pressure and aching. The pain of headache is mild, and you feel it on more sides of your head than one specific spot. Common areas that people feel headaches are forehead, temples and the back of the neck. They typically don’t last as long as migraines. Migraines last longer and are much more severe. There are instances where migraines can be so severe that you can find yourself going to the emergency room. They have far more effects than a headache including: vomiting, nausea, vision loss and disturbing long-lasting pain.

    When to see your Neurologist

    Sometimes it can be difficult to decide when it’s time to see a doctor. Migraines are painful and severe but they are not dangerous which can add to the difficulty in deciding when to see a doctor. It’s important to pay attention to the symptoms you are experiencing. Sometimes migraine symptoms can also be symptoms of other conditions that would lead to much more serious issues.

    Seek consultation from a doctor if:

    • Your migraines are severe or begin suddenly
    • You experience migraines much more frequently and they worsen
    • If your speech, health and vision are impaired
    • Coughing or sneezing causes or triggers a migraine

    Contact your Las Vegas Neurologist if you are experiencing migraines that are severe and prevent you from functioning normally throughout your day!

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    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, stress, stress relief
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    Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Monday, April 9th, 2018

    Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that affects mostly neurons in a specific area of the brain and causes problems with certain nerve cells within the brain. Parkinson’s disease affects the way you move. Symptoms usually develop more and move over time but some may develop sooner than others. The type of symptoms and how fast they progress differ for each person. The disease is very diverse and can be experienced differently by some.

    Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease:

    • Tremor, mainly at rest and described as shaking in the hands, legs, face and jaw
    • Slowness of movements (bradykinesia)
    • Muscle/Limb rigidity
    • Difficulty walking/balance problems

    The nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine which sends signals to the part of the brain that controls your movement. This chemical allows you to move freely and allows your muscles to do what you want them to do. Parkinson’s disease affects these nerve cells by breaking them down. The less dopamine you have, the less you can control your movements. While this is something that can affect the way you live your life, there are treatments that can control it and still allow you to live a full life. If you know a family member or friend that is experiencing symptoms, contact your Las Vegas Neurologist for further steps on treating it.

    The cause for Parkinson’s is still unknown and a cure has yet to be discovered. There are a variety of treatment options for Parkinson’s that can relieve some of the symptom. Medications and surgery are usually the two most common treatments. The disease can affect your life in a serious matter and can worsen and lead to other complications, however it is not a fatal disease.

    Parkinson’s Disease and its Progression

    Parkinson’s disease does not mean the best quality of life is not possible for you. By first understanding the disease, the options you have and how it can progress over time, you can prevent the disease from affecting and controlling your life.

    Parkinson’s Disease can affect your walking and talking. It is usually affects people over the age of 60 but can affect people under the age of 50. Some people may experience the disease progressing much quicker than others. Everyone experiences it differently. While tremor is one of the first and most commonly experienced symptom, it is best to be aware of it when it happens. The most important step is not to overlook the symptoms. Some symptoms don’t always directly point to Parkinson’s. It is beneficial to observe and be aware of how often these symptoms occur, the severity of it and understanding when it’s time to visit your Las Vegas Neurologist.

    During the later stages of Parkinson’s Disease, people feel more muscle changes in the body. People with PD will experience problems  swallowing food and drinks or constipation. Most people will begin to have a fixed or blanked expression, trouble speaking and sometimes this disease can lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

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    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Parkinson's Disease, Silver State Neurology

    Maintaining your Brain Health

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Wednesday, March 28th, 2018

    Maintaining brain health is often taken for granted. Many assume that there isn’t much maintenance you have to do, but it is just as important as any part of your body; it is actually one of the most important parts of your body. Your brain plays a special role in everything you do from your personality, memory, education or work. Since your brain controls many aspects of your life, it’s important to know that it should be taken care of.

    As you get older, your brain needs more maintenance. You feel stress much more intensely, have a harder time connecting things, and your brain simply gets tired. Prevention is key in making sure your brain doesn’t slow down earlier on! Everything from exercise, nutrition, social interactions and more can affect your brain on a daily basis. Being aware of it is the next biggest thing to remember when  maintaining your brain health.

    Exercise Mentally and Physically

    Exercise is known to maintain health in all aspects. Not only does exercise in a routinely basis reduce risk of physical health disease, but it improves your overall quality of life. You will notice your energy levels increase and your entire well-being improving along with your brain. It improves your quality of sleep and provides better balance in your life. Exercise not only affects your body positively but it is likely you will avoid depression and anxiety. Reading and playing games that challenge your mind can also improve your brain’s memory to avoid getting diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.

    Our ability to interact with other socially is also a way to reduce the amount of stress that can affect the brain. Being secluded or isolated can sometimes promote depression or anxiety which eventually strains the brain. Social networks is another way to decrease the chances of dementia.

    Healthy Eating Habits

    It is often said that paying attention to the food your body consumes is essential in health, however, understanding why we eat and what we eat can influence our health and longevity in your life. You are what you eat after all! It’s not a matter of giving up the unhealthy foods, but making sure you are properly getting the nutrients your body needs to maintain its health. That is especially true for your brain health. Certain foods can reduce the risks of disorders or diseases your brain can develop over time. Fruits and vegetables are an easy addition to your diet that can make a huge difference. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be a chore, nor does it have to be difficult. You can get creative with your meals and practice making dishes that are rich in nutrients. You don’t have to sacrifice the flavor of your meal just to be healthy. Healthy foods are just as tasty!

    Getting Enough Sleep

    When you’re young, you think sleep isn’t as valuable and you could do without much of it. Getting at least 6 hours of sleep a nigh can help you manage the stress better, gives you more energy and even boosts your immune system. Anything less than 6 hours of sleep can affect your mood, make you feel tired throughout the day and can make your brain undergo a lot of stress. Sleep is an essential part in making sure your brain is healthy from risks of memory diseases, and other mental disorders.

    Stay Aware of Health Risks

    Always be aware of the things that can be harmful to your brain. Stress is part of your everyday life and will likely always be part of your life. Managing stress by understanding what your brain needs can help reduce the effects of it. Don’t put your brain under any mental strain if it doesn’t have to be. Drastic lifestyle changes don’t need to happen as long as you are being cautious of what you do to your body whether it be consuming large amounts of unhealthy foods constantly, not exercising and not having healthy sleepy habits. While the rest of your body is very important, don’t be too focused on the other areas that you forget about what your brain needs. Your Las Vegas Neurologist will be able to provide you more information on keeping your brain healthy.

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    Categories : Blog, Brain Food, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, stress relief
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