5 Questions

For nearly a month, my father 65 is getting tingling sensation in his right arm, off and on. Can it have any neurological basis? Rema Gupta....

8226; For nearly a month, my father 65 is getting tingling sensation in his right arm, off and on. Can it have any neurological basis? Rema Gupta

Tingling in the arm may be due to several reasons. At that age, it could be due to nerve root compression from cervical spondylosis, or a problem in the brain as well, or a lack of blood supply. If happening intermittently, it rarely represents a sensory seizure. It could even be a local nerve compression. Only after a detailed examination, a differential diagnosis can be made. Please consult a neurologist.

8226; My elder brother 60 suffered a serious electrolyte imbalance in his body including hyponatremia. He is also on dialysis due to kidney failure. For the last few days, he is in a coma. Please let us know if he needs neurological assistance. Sahil Khanna

Hyponatremia itself or its rapid correction can lead to a condition called central pontine myelinolysis, which could mimic coma. In addition to that, kidney failure can lead to what is called as 8220;uremic coma8221;. In that fragile state, numerous reversible situations can add on to an altered sensorium. Since any disturbance in the metabolic or systemic disease can lead to alterations in a patient8217;s sensorium and cause coma, all these situations are routinely looked into by a clinician. A neurologist needs to be consulted.

8226; What are the warning signals for stroke and what precautions are necessary? Preeti Chandra

Stroke or 8220;brain attack8221; is a sudden development of loss of function in the body. The usual warning signs are: Sudden appearance of weakness in one part of the body, what is most commonly called a 8220;paralysis8221;; sudden full or partial loss of vision; sudden alteration in speech, either inability to understand or speak or both; sudden imbalance in walking, vertigo, dizziness, with double vision or slurring of speech; sudden severe headaches, alteration in behaviour, in sensorium or loss of consciousness; loss or variable sensations in a part of the body and seizures. So, the signs and symptoms can be protean, unlike a heart attack where only chest pain or breathlessness commonly occurs. This is the reason why a number of strokes are only detected much later. The risk factors for stroke are again very many. The non-modifiable ones include age, race, heredity and to an extent, sex. The modifiable ones are hypertension, diabetes, high lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides in blood, heart disease, smoking, heavy alcohol, infections and deficiency of certain essential vitamins. If there is a family history of stroke, get yourself checked regularly. Look out for the other factors and control them either through lifestyle control or with medication.

8226; Is there any treatment for paralysis in stem cell therapy? Is AIIMS working on such therapies? Usha Kiran

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Stem cell therapy for stroke is being conducted as a research project at AIIMS. The protocol has gone through strict ethical appraisal and review and is funded by a Central scientific institution. Stem cell therapies at the moment are to be carried out only under extremely strict research protocols and NOT as routine treatment modalities.

8226; I am a 55-year-old man suffering from unexplained severe headaches for the last six months. My physician had advised me to consult a neurologist. I also suffer from hypertension. What could be the reason? Ashok Kumar

Unexplained recent-onset headache needs to be investigated. Hypertension by and large is said to be a 8220;silent8221; killer and need not necessarily be accompanied by headaches. Of course, if your blood pressure is very high, you may experience headaches. It is better to consult a neurologist. There could be numerous other causes, including, tumors, infections etc.