Call Us Today! 702.272.0694

Archive for brain health – Page 3

Challenging your Brain

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Friday, June 22nd, 2018

There is no right age to start thinking of how to keep your brain healthy. People who challenge their brains are likely to live a longer and more fulfilling life! There are different types of exercises that can boost our brain energy, but mental health exercises are often overlooked. Take some time each day to give your mind a mental workout!

Things that benefit our brain are right in front of us, sometimes we don’t see it right away. Add these simple tips into your everyday life more frequently!

Learn new things

Nothing wrong with a little new information every now and then. Whether you learn a new language, an instrument or studying a different career industry, learning should be a consistent part of your life! Learning new things challenges your brain’s skills in memory retainment, reading, problem-solving and so much more. Be curious about the world around, add to your vocabulary, utilize the internet when you come across something you’ve never seen.

You may consider learning a new hobby! If you want to start with something simple, a new hobby is a great way to start. Starting a new hobby allows you to get your creativity flowing and makes you think! Sometimes the things we are good at have yet to be discovered!

Be Productive in the Mornings

Routines are healthy for the brain. Waking up early and jump-starting your day with a to-do list not only boosts productivity but it prevents your brain from feeling sluggish all day. Changing up your routine is the challenge. Yes, it is important to have a routine weekly, but it’s even healthier to change it up every now and then by adding new tasks or doing things differently. A fixed routine can eventually make your brain feel too accustomed to something.

Rotate between being Old-Fashioned & Current

Technology is something many people rely on and not rely on enough. There are those few who are heavily dependent on using their smartphones and laptops and then there are those who rather not dive into learning how to use technology to their advantage.

If you aren’t familiar with the technology, it might be a great thing to teach yourself. It’s important to stay current and there’ s nothing wrong with learning something new especially if you can use it to your advantage.

If you rely on technology a little too much, try doing things the hard way sometimes:

  • Use your brain for basic math you need to add or even memorizing phone numbers of people important to you!
  • Use your sense of direction and mental skills to figure out where to go without using a GPS from your phone.

    • Stay Well-Read

    Regardless of your interests, it’s important to read. Read anything! Books, magazines, articles, food labels. Reading stimulates your brain and keeps your mind pumping. It’s one of the simplest ways to challenge your brain.

    Keep up with current events, even if it’s a little a day. Whether you are staying updated with the environment, politics, world news or even local news, stimulate your brain by learning about things that are happening right now. You may even consider learning about the technological changes that are happening in society today! You will be surprised by what you learn each day, there is always something new.

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Alzheimer's disease, Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Diet, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, Silver State Neurology, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief
    Tags : , , , , ,

    How to Care For Someone with Alzheimer’s

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Tuesday, June 12th, 2018

    When someone starts to develop Alzheimer’s, it can cause strain on their loved ones. Sometimes it becomes difficult because we often don’t know what to do when their behavior changes. It’s important to keep in mind: their actions often cannot be controlled. Still, how can we care for someone afflicted by Alzheimer’s?

    Short and simple

    Those with Alzheimer’s will often forget that they’ve just asked a question multiple times. You will probably be tempted to give them an answer you would give someone else. But this might involve a lengthier and more complicated response. If you keep your response short and concise, you won’t be as frustrated when you have to repeat it as many times as they ask. It will also be easier for them to understand what you are saying.

    If you find yourself having to repeat yourself often, keep these tips in mind:

    •Consider (why they are asking); think about how they feel and give a response that can resolve frustrating emotions.
    •Distract; the best way to get their mind somewhere else is to ask for help. Ask them to perform a simple task to occupy their mind for a few minutes. This can be as simple as setting the table or folding the laundry.
    •Break; don’t be afraid to take a second for yourself if you are becoming angry. Losing your temper on someone with Alzheimer’s will just be frustrating for everybody. Take a moment to gather yourself to keep your cool.

    Keep it consistent

    As someone with Alzheimer’s declines the memory more, it can be difficult to keep new things organized. New experiences are jarring and can be frustrating without having patience. When a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, consider making a weekly schedule. Include things like laundry, grocery shopping, meals, and anything else you can keep consistent.

    Give them independence

    Early on, those with Alzheimer’s simply need a small reminder to accomplish their daily tasks. Guide them softly at first, letting them keep their control. The longer they stay active and aware, the longer their memory will stay in better shape.

    For more complex tasks, like managing money or keeping track of medications, make sure they don’t make mistakes. If they do, gently correct it for them and assure them you are there to help.

    Take care of yourself

    Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone with Alzheimer’s is to take care of yourself. Seeing a loved one’s memory decline is can be frustrating. Consider a few of these tips to keep yourself ready for whatever comes your way:
    •Keep yourself connected; having people around you as you care for someone with Alzheimer’s will make it easier to decompress. Try to find others that are going through the same thing for encouragement and comfort.
    •Ask for help; know that the people around you want to help. We never want to take a break from helping our loved ones with Alzheimer’s, but sometimes we need a moment to recollect. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to step in for an afternoon, so you can get the time you need to recharge.
    •Don’t take it personally; Alzheimer’s is a disease that someone can’t control in their head. Sometimes they forget important things, and you must be forgiving. They don’t mean to hurt you, so care for them even when it’s difficult.
    •Laugh and be happy; your loved ones with Alzheimer’s are still your loved ones. Laugh with them and let yourself fall into the moments that make you happy. It’ll remind you of why they mean so much to you.

    Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s is difficult but manageable. Know the tips to care for them and yourself, and you’ll be an incredible caretaker and loved one. And don’t forget, Silver State Neurology can help.

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Alzheimer's disease, Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic
    Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Declutter your Brain

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Thursday, May 24th, 2018

    Our lives are constantly dictated by tight schedules and lengthy to-do lists. The stress of the workplace or the home can quickly compound, making even simple tasks seem like a hassle. The best way to stay calm and collected even in those frustrating situations is to keep an organized mind. The goal isn’t to compartmentalize every aspect of your life into an even stricter schedule and to-do list. The goal is to declutter your brain of unnecessary thoughts so that you can focus on one thing at a time (and do it successfully, too).

    But how can we go about getting our mind in the right state? With all these stressors surrounding us, it’s a lot tougher than said. Here are a few tips to get you started:

    Keep a journal

    Yes, I’m sure we have all heard “keep a journal” a thousand times. But, what makes it so useful? Journals are essential for word blurts. When we feel overwhelmed by the thoughts, sometimes the best option is to get it all out at once. Open a document on your computer, and start typing away. Don’t stop until you have nothing left to say. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to focus on specifics without worrying about all those other “things” bouncing around.

    Learn a few strategies to make decisions

    One of the most stressful aspects of our lives is making decisions. Even choosing what to eat for breakfast can be stressful when you only have 5 minutes to make yourself something that stays true to your diet. Deciding if you want to go out with your friends on a Thursday night, knowing you have work early the next day is another. Or maybe you’re torn between staying with your current job and moving to a new city to pursue something better but making less.

    All these decisions that we must make every day of our lives pile up quickly and cause the mind to get cluttered. A useful strategy is Heath’s WRAP method: widen your choices, reality-test your assumptions, attain distance before deciding, and prepare to be wrong.

    If you’re short on time, use the tried-and-true method of a pro/con list. Listing your options and their potential benefits and downsides might give you an obvious answer that you weren’t able to see with a cluttered mind.

    Know when it is time to see your local Las Vegas Neurologist to help guide you to better brain health management. Sometimes our bodies are trying to tell us something and we don’t listen. If your body and brain is overwhelmed, listen to it. Stress can impact the brain’s health.

    Rearrange your priorities

    What’s more important to you: family or your career? What about loyalty or honesty? What are your core values? And what do you want to be kept at the forefront of your mind when making decisions? Oftentimes, in the heat of complicated situations, we sacrifice what’s important to us to complete a task. If we constantly remind ourselves of what is important to us, we can make better decisions and make them faster. Keeping a set of principles ahead of us at all times also helps to declutter the things that aren’t as important.

    Get out of the past

    The biggest clutter in our mind is what we’ve done in the past. We miss one deadline, and it becomes the only thing we can think about for the next week. The best way we can help ourselves is to acknowledge when our mind returns to a negative memory of the past and calmly bring it back to focus. Slowly training our minds to see the positives and stay in the present keeps us free from the clutter of the past.

    Clean your physical space

    A big contributor to the mess in your mind is the mess that is all around you in your physical space. The unnecessary visual stimuli kick your mind into hyperdrive, making you think you constantly have to accomplish tasks. Taking a few minutes to keep your space clean each day will help you relax.

    Conclusion

    The stressors that we experience each day of our lives sometimes make it difficult to keep a clear mind. But taking the time to do some clean-up following the tips outlined above can help you live a less stressful life. If you are experiencing brain health issues, visit your local Las Vegas Neurologist and seek help.

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, Silver State Neurology, stress, stress relief
    Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    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!

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, stress, stress relief
    Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Best Foods for Brain Health

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Thursday, February 1st, 2018

    We have always known that what we eat affects our bodies. That means that everything we eat takes a toll on our brains. At our Las Vegas neurology clinic, we emphasize that brain foods matter! Do you know the top foods for brain health? Food rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals provide energy and aid in protecting against brain diseases. In addition, hormones from our stomach influence cognitive ability like understanding and processing new information. Being properly fed helps us stay focused on the task at hand and recognize when we’re full. When we focus on feeding our bodies whole, nutritious foods, we’re benefiting both our minds and bodies. Our Las Vegas neurologist Dr. Milford has compiled a list of foods for brain health that we should all have in our diets. Read on to learn 25 of the best foods for brain health!

    1. Avocados: rich in monounsaturated fats (the “good kind), folate, vitamin K, vitamin B, and vitamin C
    2. Freshly Brewed Tea: hot or iced, boasts memory and focus-enhancing caffeine as well as antioxidants
    3. Beets: high in antioxidants and natural nitrates
    4. Almonds: contain high concentrations of vitamin E (3 times more than peanut butter)
    5. Blueberries: packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber; the highest antioxidant-rich food known to man
    6. Tomatoes: top source of carotenoids and lycopene
    7. Bone Broth: high levels of collagen and healing amino acids
    8. Coconut Oil: concentrated with brain-fueling trigycerides
    9. Broccoli: loaded with vitamin K, choline, and vitamin C
    10. Hemp Seeds: provides all essential fatty acids, vitamin B, vitamin D, and vitamin E
    11. Coffee: contains high concentration of antioxidants and helpful caffeine
    12. Celery: dense with antioxidants and polysaccharides
    13. Pumpkin Seeds: excellent source of magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper
    14. Dark Chocolate (at least 70% cocoa): chock-full of anti-inflammatory flavonols
    15. Citrus fruits: full of powerful antioxidant vitamin C
    16. Egg yolks: contains large amounts of choline
    17. Berries: rich source of anthocyanins and other flavonoids
    18. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: loaded with powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols
    19. Green, Leafy Vegetables: full of inflammation-fighting vitamins A and K
    20. Salmon: packed with brain friendly omega-3 fatty acids
    21. Turmeric: high in powerful anti-inflammatory agent curcumin
    22. Walnuts: high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
    23. Whole Grains: dense with fiber as well as vitamin E and omega-3s
    24. Beans: provides steady stream of glucose to feed the brain
    25. Pomegranate Juice: offers potent antioxidant benefits
    Comments (0)
    Categories : Alzheimer's disease, Blog, Brain Food, Brain Health, Diet, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Silver State Neurology
    Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    « Previous Page
    Next Page »