DR WINNIE LIM KHOO : ADULT NEUROLOGIST / HEADACHE MASTER

The Ugly Truth of Brain Aneurysm

Based on a study conducted by John Hopkins Medicine; Brain Aneurysm is when a section of one of the brain’s blood vessels bulges or balloons, it’s called an aneurysm. The size and shape of an aneurysm can vary. Doctors consider these and other factors when determining whether — and how — to treat you. Doctors consider key aneurysm characteristics when deciding how much of a threat an aneurysm poses to your health.

A ruptured aneurysm, sometimes called a brain bleed, is when blood breaks through the aneurysm’s wall and starts bleeding. This causes severe symptoms, such as a very painful headache like you’ve never felt before, and requires immediate medical care. With rapid, expert treatment, patients can often recover fully.

An unruptured brain aneurysm may cause no symptoms. People can live with them for years before detection. If a brain aneurysm is unruptured, no blood has broken through the blood vessel walls.

Brain aneurysms are relatively rare. One research paper that analyzed 68 studies on aneurysms from 21 countries found the prevalence to be about 3 percent. That means around 3 out of every 100 people in the general population have a brain aneurysm.

Stress that lead to Heart Disease

According to John Hopkins Hospital; Stress can increase inflammation in your body, which in turn is linked to factors that can harm your heart, such as high blood pressure and lower “good” HDL cholesterol But chronic stress can also affect your heart in a more indirect way. When you’re worried, you tend to sleep poorly. You’re also less likely to exercise, make healthy food choices, or watch your weigh. All of these lifestyle changes can put your heart health at risk.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the connection is that stress can pop up in many different scenarios—from relationships to “good” jobs to sporting events. And all can take a toll on your heart health.

Are you having a Stroke?

According to the Stroke Association of America; Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Stroke can happen to anyone — any age, any time — and everyone needs to know the warning signs.

Common signs and symptoms of a brain attack or stroke are as follows:

NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech
TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes
TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause

If you’re having a stroke, it’s critical that you get medical attention right away. Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

What does Thrombotic stroke means?

Cheerful senior Caucasian woman uses a walker during physical therapy session. A mid adult Asian female physical therapist is helping her walk with the walker.

Thrombotic strokes are strokes caused by a blood clot (thrombus) that develops in the arteries supplying blood to the brain. This type of stroke is usually seen in older people, especially those with diabetes or high cholesterol and a buildup of fat and lipids inside the walls of blood vessels (atherosclerosis).

Sometimes, symptoms of a thrombotic stroke can occur suddenly. They can happen during sleep or in the early morning. At other times, it may occur gradually over a period of hours or even days.

Mini-strokes are also called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). One of more of these may happen before a thrombotic stroke. TIAs may last for a few minutes or up to 24 hours. They are often a warning sign that a stroke may occur. Symptoms of a TIA are often mild and temporary, but they are similar to those caused by a stroke.

Another type of ischemic stroke that occurs in the deep penetrating branches of the small blood vessels in the brain is called a lacunar infarct. The word lacunar comes from the Latin word meaning “hole” or “cavity.” Lacunar infarctions are often found in people who have diabetes or high blood pressure.

Details are derived from John Hopkins University website

The facts and meaning of Brain Attack

According to John Hopkins Hospital, Brain Attack or the commonly called Stroke happens when blood flow to the brain stops, even for a second. Blood carries oxygen and other important substances to the body’s cells and organs, including the brain. In an ischemic stroke – these substances can’t get to the brain and brain cells die. This can permanently damage the brain and make a person’s body stop working as it should. While in a hemorrhagic stroke is a blood vessel in the brain breaks, flooding the brain with blood and damaging brain cells.

At this time, there’s no treatment that can fix brain cells that have died. But undamaged brain cells can learn to do the jobs of cells that have died, especially in young people. In many cases after a stroke, people can learn to use their arms and legs and speak again through brain retraining. This process is usually slow and difficult. But kids have an edge over adults because their young brains are still developing. Most people who have had strokes can interact normally and be active members of their communities.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome : Common Complications

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According to The Mayo Clinic; Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After chickenpox clears up, the virus still lives in your nerves.

Complications of Ramsay Hunt syndrome may include:

Permanent hearing loss and facial weakness. For most people, the hearing loss and facial paralysis associated with Ramsay Hunt syndrome is temporary. However, it can become permanent.
Eye damage. The facial weakness caused by Ramsay Hunt syndrome may make it difficult for you to close your eyelid. When this happens, the cornea, which protects your eye, can become damaged. This damage can cause eye pain and blurred vision.
Postherpetic neuralgia. This painful condition occurs when a shingles infection damages nerve fibers. The messages sent by these nerve fibers become confused and exaggerated, causing pain that may last long after other signs and symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome have faded.

It is a good reminder that Ramsay Hunt syndrome isn’t contagious.

Rick factor of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs in people who’ve had chickenpox. Once you recover from chickenpox, the virus stays in your body — sometimes reactivating in later years to cause shingles, a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a shingles outbreak that affects the facial nerve near one of your ears. It can also causes one-sided facial paralysis and hearing loss.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox. It’s more common in older adults, typically affecting people older than 60. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is rare in children.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome isn’t contagious. However, reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus can cause chickenpox in people who haven’t previously had chickenpox or been vaccinated for it. The infection can be serious for people who have immune system problems.

Until the rash blisters scab over, avoid physical contact with:

Anyone who’s never had chickenpox or who’s never had the chickenpox vaccine
Anyone who has a weak immune system
Newborns
Pregnant women

Details taken from the study conducted by The Mayo Clinic

Celebrity with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Trending news in the social media world has been spreading that a popular male celebrity is experiencing Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Before we even look into the personality; it is smart to get a proper knowledge and idea on what Ramsay Hunt Syndrome really is.

According to The Mayo Clinic; Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus) occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of your ears. In addition to the painful shingles rash, Ramsay Hunt syndrome can cause facial paralysis and hearing loss in the affected ear.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After chickenpox clears up, the virus still lives in your nerves. Years later, it may reactivate. When it does, it can affect your facial nerves.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox. It’s more common in older adults, typically affecting people older than 60. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is rare in children.

It is time to visit your doctor or neurologist if you experience facial paralysis or a shingles rash on your face. Treatment that starts within three days of the start of signs and symptoms may help prevent long-term complications.

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Dr Winnie Sharon Lim Khoo : Neurologist in Metro Manila

Dr. Winnie Sharon Lim Khoo : Adult Neurologist. She is a brain, spinal cord & nerve specialist with experience in the diagnosis, treatment and management of stroke, neuromuscular and headache disorder such as migraine. Her special field of interest includes seizure disorders such as epilepsy, brain aneurysm, demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, dizziness, neuropathy, spinal cord disorders including neck & back pain, infections and tumors of the nervous system.

Specialized training in the field of Neuroscience, section of Neurology at Makati Medical Center, Makati city, Philippines. Neuropathology Observership Training at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York city, USA. Master of Headache Disorder, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

She is a member of the Philippine Neurological Association, Philippine Medical Association, International Headache Society, Encephalitis Society and Demetia Society of the Philippines

Dr Winnie is affiliated with the following medical institutions namely : Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, Chinese General Hospital and ACE Medical Center and the soon the open hospital in Quezon city – Great Valley Medical Center. She provides physical Face to Face consultation as well as Virtual Consultation (Video Online Tele-consultation) in the Philippines

You may check the profile of Dr Winnie Lim Khoo at http://www.winnielimkhoo.com

Video Online Consultation with a Neurologist in Manila

Get a quick, convenient and secure way to digitally connect with your neurologist (specialist) without having to queue on long lines in the clinic or going through the heavy traffic of the metropolis. You can access the online consultation via audio call or video call (viber). Prior appointment is required.