With cases of brain-related ailments in India are witnessing a sharp rise, ignoring the symptoms of neurologic disorders, be it migraines or early morning persistent headaches can be dangerous. In a recent case study done by ‘Indian Spinal Injuries Centre’ (ISIC), it has been found that early morning persistent headache is one of the major symptoms of brain tumour.
“Since the base of our brain is surrounded by important blood vessels of the brain, the tumour formed at a complex place. Further investigations, MRI Brain and MRI Angiography were carried out to know more about the tumour, which was 6 cm x7 cm,” said DrArun Sharma, Consultant Neurosurgeon at ISIC.
Insisting that persistent headache in the early morning is one of the initial symptoms of brain tumour; he said that sometimes such tumours cause changes in behaviour of the patient which is usually attributed to work or family stress.
A neurological disorder is any disorder of the nervous system. Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord or other nerves can result in a range of symptoms.
Dr Sharma said that all brain tumours are not cancerous.”Surgical results depend on size and location of tumour. Some tumours may require chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery. Many tumours can be safely and completely removed,” he said, adding that persistent headache and vomiting, weakness of limbs, imbalance in walking, slurring of speech, difficulty in swallowing of food, difficulty in hearing, decreased vision, paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, confusion and pain and altered levels of consciousness are the side-effects of the brain tumour.
A senior ISIC official said that the case study all began when a 56-year-old patient had to immediately rush to the emergency department as he was suffering from an episode of seizure. When the CT scan was performed, the hospital got to know that he had a large tumour at the base of the brain just behind the forehead and above the eyes. Since it was a slow-growing tumour, hence the patient presented only when it had grown very big and that resulted in seizure, he said, adding that the surgery lasted for quite some time and the patient started walking within a couple of days.