The human brain is a marvelous creation of nature. It does not just manage the functioning of the whole body and takes care of the working of the organs, but it is also a deeply mysterious place where dreams are formed and creativity is born.
This wonderful creation is, after all, a biological organ and just like other organs and tissues in our body, the fundamental unit of this is a cell called a neuron. Neurons are the building blocks of the brain and also form the nerves in the body to send and receive signals.
Doctors and neurologists from the top neurology hospitals in Bangalore and around the world have been involved in cutting edge research and studies of the human brain, and the results are mind-blowing.
A LITTLE MORE TO KNOW ABOUT THE BRAIN
The brain utilizes about 20% of the oxygen that our body intakes from the environment. There needs to be enough oxygen supplied to the brain to ensure smooth functioning of it, and hence the whole body.
Neurons in the brain, nerves and the spinal cord are small units capable of sending and receiving signals in the form of electrical impulses. In fact, it wouldn’t be completely wrong to say that there is always electricity flowing through our bodies in the form of signals from the sense organs and other body parts to the brain and from the brain to the body parts.
DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION
A number of times, doctors implant artificial electrodes inside the brain to help a patient with certain neurological defects. Most neurological or psychological disorders are a result of abnormal electrical activity inside the brain and the nerves. Once the electrodes are placed at a suitable position, they create and send out electrical impulses that cancel out the abnormal activity of the brain.
As complex as it sounds, in reality, the procedure involves a neurological surgery that may be performed by highly experienced doctors in the top neurology hospitals in Bangalore or around the world.
Even before performing the surgery, the doctors always need to check for complications that may occur in the patient’s body as the surgery itself is a very risky and complicated procedure. Sometimes, deep brain stimulation also manages to control and regulate chemical production inside the brain.
Apart from the careful placement of the artificial electrode inside the brain, there is also a very carefully managed procedure of a pacemaker being installed near the collar bone of the patient. This procedure is also a part of the surgery, and the pacemaker controls the functioning of the electrode inside the brain through a wire that runs from the electrode down to the pacemaker under the skin.
ISSUES THAT ARE FINDING SOLUTIONS THROUGH DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION
A number of neurological as well as behavioral or psychological disorders of the brain are being treated and controlled through deep brain stimulation procedures in the patients:
EPILEPSY: this is a brain condition in which abnormal functioning of the brain causes seizures, loss of consciousness, states of mental confusion or strange jerking movements of the limbs. If left untreated, a patient may lose consciousness completely. Deep brain stimulation is helping epileptic individuals to lead a somewhat normal life through controlled and healthy brain activity.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE: a number of patients with this disorder have trouble with the movements of their body parts and limbs. This is due to an imbalance in the part of the brain that takes care of our movements. Deep brain stimulation is helping a number of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease to experience a decrease in their symptoms.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER: a number of people who deal with compulsions in their daily life often experience extreme conditions that cause a lot of restlessness and anxiety among them. Deep brain stimulation can help patients with OCD to have lesser episodes of compulsions in their life.
ADDICTIONS: substance abuse affects millions of people around the world. From alcohol to illegal drugs, a number of people are dealing with major addiction issues. A number of times, the situation can become out of control when a patient becomes physically dependent on any substance. It is extremely hard for people dealing with addiction issues to lead a normal life as there can always be setbacks in recovery. Deep brain stimulation can help people with addiction and help them with the process of recovering.
EXTREME DEPRESSION: depression is one of the most common psychological disorders experienced by people all around the world these days. Extreme cases of depression may even cause suicidal thoughts in patients. Deep brain stimulation can help patients with depression to deal with their issue and lead a happy life.