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Tips for Training Your Brain

The brain is the most powerful component of the body because it allows it to function. The brain is responsible for how you think, feel, and act within your surroundings. It controls everything that you do even when you’re asleep. Damage to any particular part of the brain could cause a neurological condition and change the way you think and act. If you have a neurological condition or experience symptoms of one, it is best to see a Las Vegas neurologist. On October 13th, it is National Train Your Brain Day. It is a day to help acknowledge brain function and celebrate your brain power.

Celebrating National Train Your Brain Day

Dedicate the day to establish goals and start building your brain power. Improve your cognitive function and avoid the feeling of brain fog. Train your brain to exceed its potential. While the brain is not a muscle, you can still contribute to its efficiency by putting in a little bit of work every single day. Your brain continues to evolve even as you age and doing the right activities can help you get your brain into better shape. Here are some tips for training your brain:

Tip #1: Exercise

Exercise helps boost your brain power and clear up your thinking. Research shows that regular physical exercise helps improve memory recall, concentration, attention t detail, and even problem solving. A great way to get in your exercise is to take a walk around your neighborhood or go for a swim. Taking a workout class at your local recreational center or gym might also be a fun way to meet new people and learn some names while you get some cardio. The right activity will help you think, process, and learn while you exercise.

Tip #2: Learn A New Instrument

Music has a great impact on sensory processes, but science also shows that musical training can change brain function and structure. It improves long-term memory and better brain development. People who know how to play music are more tactile and have better reaction times. Learning a new instrument integrates visual, auditory, and physical senses. It requires the use of fine motor skills and strengthens reading skills. Pick up that old guitar and start learning some chords. It will make you happy, reduce your anxiety and strengthen your brain’s ability to process and retain information.

Tip #3: Eat Brain Food

The right diet will fuel your brain to function at its best. Rich fatty acids help neurons in your brain. It is also important to hydrate because your brain is nearly 80% water. When your brain isn’t properly hydrated, it will take significantly more time to complete a task than when you have had enough water.

Tip #4: Try Photography

Photography is not just a creative activity, it also has a technical aspect that can be mentally-challenging. Evidence shows that mentally-challenging hobbies or activities can actually help change brain function and restore youth-like levels of brain activity. It’s time to tinker with a digital camera and try processing images on a photo-editing software. These activities require logical reasoning and abstract thinking. It will challenge you to tackle the unfamiliar. Research shows that difficult activities help improve memory more than passive activities.

Tip #5: Practice Memorization

Whether it’s a song, a quote, or a new vocabulary word, it’s important to acknowledge the part of your brain that controls your memory. Remember that your brain requires maintenance and part of that is processing and retaining new information. With recent technological advancements, we come across a lot of information in our day-to-day lives. It is important to sit down and try to memorize useful tidbits that help us maintain our brain function. Start with a new line from a song every morning, and quiz yourself at the end of the day to see how well you remember it.

Consistency is Key

Practice doesn’t just make perfect; practice makes it permanent. Being consistent with these activities is how you boost your brain power. Doing it for one day will not help train your brain. It is important to use this day to set new goals for yourself to keep your mind and brain as active as possible. Keep to your commitment and make it a priority to continue learning even as you grow older. Give your brain the chance to develop and change to help it function at its optimal performance. If you still feel like your brain health is not at it’s best, it may be best to consult a Las Vegas neurologist. Seeing a neurologist in Las Vegas will help you treat symptoms you may be experiencing due to poor brain health.

Receive a blend of neurology, psychology, pain management, orthopedics and physical therapy at Silver State Neurology in Las Vegas. Dr. Christopher Milford and the staff at Silver State Neurology are focused on being the best medical support team for every patient. They offer state of the art neurological care in Las Vegas. Celebrate National Train Your Brain Day and increase your brain power.

Seasonal Allergies: How to Control it

It’s that time of the year where the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, the weather is cool and calm, and the seasonal allergies are in the air. Spring is an exciting time for everyone! You can finally dress warmer and go outside and enjoy the beauty of Spring. The downfall is, you begin to sneeze, your eyes get irritated and your nose is runny every day. Spring is great and all, until you become one of the people affected by the allergies that come with it!

As beautiful as Spring may be, it is difficult for some to transition into a new season. Some suffer terrible allergies which ultimately makes it difficult to enjoy the season at all. Depending where you live, the pollen in the air, the weather conditions and more can really affect your allergies. Your allergies can even turn into a cold. When you know allergy season is strong for you, it’s important to take precaution and prevent or treat your allergies correctly since they can affect your brain health.

Allergies can affect your brain health

Brain health can be affected by nearly anything. While some may take allergies lightly, it can cause “brain fog” which is a hazy and tired feeling that makes it difficult for people to concentrate. Allergies essentially affect your nose and sinuses which makes it difficult to think, function and perform properly. If you take the right steps to control your seasonal allergies, you will likely not have to experience brain fog. Should you experience more symptoms in your brain health this Spring, contact your Las Vegas Neurologist for more information.

Tips to control and treat your allergies

Staying indoors can help you when the amount of pollen in the air is high. Some don’t think pollen can influence you getting allergies, but it sure does. If you live in a place high in plants and blooming flowers everywhere, it might be best to spend a few days at home. Windy days can be common during Spring, it is particularly important to stay indoors if the pollen levels are high and the days is windier than usual. You will find your nose and eyes will get irritated the most, should you be outdoors during an extremely windy day. If you wear contacts, it is also best to keep your eyes protected and prevent irritation especially since your eyes can get dry with contacts in.

Take medicine even if you think that your allergy is minor. If you know that you easily get allergies, take medicine before you experience any symptoms. It is way better to prevent yourself from getting allergies than preventing it from getting worse. At that point, it is harder to treat it and it will be more difficult to get rid of. Take medicine and train your body to fight off the allergies as much as possible.

Dress warm even if you think Spring means warmer weather. Winter is over, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to wear less. If you keep yourself warm during windy and overcast days, you are still making sure your health is being taken care of. Don’t assume that winter is completely over. There are still going to be days where it will be cold, and you should watch out for it!

Visit your Las Vegas Neurologist when your allergies worsen and affect your overall mental and physical health. Some don’t think that it’s worth it to see a doctor with allergies. But there are some medications that can help alleviate the symptoms you are experiencing. Don’t let allergies stop you from enjoying a brand new and fun season to be outside.

If you are cooped up inside in the Spring, are you really enjoying the season if you’re indoors? Allergies can be a nuisance but doesn’t have to be something you spend your entire season battling. Get your allergies under control and spend the rest of the season enjoying it outside!

Flu Season Safety Tips: 2018 Flu Season

Flu season safety is of utmost importance right now. This year’s flu season is quite a deadly one. Influenza is all over the continental United States. Roughly 9.1 percent of all deaths in the US are due to flu and pneumonia, which is a common complication of the flu. Those most at risk during the 2018 flu season are children and the elderly.

Our Las Vegas neurologist knows that all parts of patient care are important. Every person at this neurology clinic in Las Vegas is dedicated to maintaining the highest quality of care. You can learn more about our Las Vegas neurology practice here! We want to help prevent the spread of flu. So, here are Silver State Neurology’s top flu season safety tips!

Practice basic personal hygiene

We wash our hands often at our Las Vegas neurology clinic. One of the most effective flu season safety methods is washing your hands frequently. Use soap and water to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizing liquid. You should be using enough liquid to cover all surfaces of your hands. It is especially important to clean your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. This will help protect you and others during flu season.

Get the flu shot

Is it too late to get the flu shot? No, it isn’t too late to do anything for flu season safety. Though the best time to get the flu shot is in October, the flu season can last all the way through May. If you haven’t already been vaccinated, getting the flu shot can still protect you from getting sick or passing the virus to someone else. Take note that it takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to create antibodies that can protect against the flu.

Vaccination of people at high risk of serious flu complications is especially important to decrease severe flu illness. That includes young children 6 months or older, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions, and anyone 65 years or older. If you have any questions, contact us! Our neurologist in Las Vegas is more than happy to help.

Stay home if you’re sick

If you’ve been diagnosed with the flu by a Las Vegas doctor, staying at home will keep other people healthy. Sick adults shouldn’t go to work, and sick children shouldn’t go to school. Taking time off to rest will also help speed recovery. In the meantime, anyone who is ill needs to stay hydrated and well-rested. The CDC recommends that those who are ill stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have any flu symptoms.

Keep surfaces clean

Common surfaces that are frequently touched must be kept clean. Regularly wipe down shared work spaces and equipment like copy machines, computers, and phones. Don’t forget to stop the spread of flu at home! Focus on cleaning surfaces like doorknobs, television remotes, and faucets. Bacteria can survive on these surfaces the longest. At our Las Vegas neurology office, we emphasize vigilance in keeping our environment clean. We employ this flu season safety tip every day.

Avoid touching your nose and eyes

There’s a common misunderstanding that the flu is spread by sharing food and drinks with sick people. However, the virus is actually spread by touching contaminated surfaces then touching the nose, mouth, or eyes. That’s because saliva doesn’t carry that much of the flu virus, and our stomachs have defenses to kill any viruses present. We’re much more susceptible to viruses that enter through the nose and eyes. For best flu season safety, our neurology office in Las Vegas recommends keeping your hands away from your face altogether.

Practice good health habits

An immune system that is already compromised will have a harder time fighting the flu. So, keep up a healthy lifestyle as much as possible for flu season safety. A healthy immune system is better equipped to withstand infection. Get adequate rest, eat healthy, and exercise. Bonus: moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, is a proven immunity booster. If you have any other health concerns, consult our Las Vegas neurology doctor.

Flu symptoms to watch out for:

  • Fever, feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting or diarrhea (more common among children than adults)