CAN one protect one's nervous system from diseases and cerebral injuries? Is it possible to detect cerebral complications at earlier stages? According to the specialists, some diseases cannot be dealt with, if they're not detected at earlier stages . According to Egyptian professor of neurology at Al- Azhar University Osama el- Ghanam, many high-spirited young people have road accidents because they drive too fast. Some young motorcyclists don't wear helmets, which only adds to the danger. "Motorists shouldn't eat fatty food before driving, because it will make them want to sleep and then they might have an accident," el- Ghanam stressed. During the 8th Annual Conference on the Brain and Nerves held in Cairo last week, Dr el-Ghanam stressed the importance of making young people more aware of the need to protect themselves from neurological disorders. Hence the conference was entitled ‘Towards Healthy Nerves'. “Preventing neurological disorders requires to quit smoking, as it damages the brain cells and can even cause blood clots on the brain,” Dr el-Ghanam told conferees, adding that reading improves the memory of people vulnerable to Alzheimer's. One should never neglect the symptoms. For example, even a headache that isn't as painful as a migraine could presage the existence of a brain tumour. “Forty per cent of brain tumours in Egypt are benign. Early detection is vital; if they're small, they can often be removed by a device known as a Gamma knife, instead of having to resort to surgery,” Dr el-Ghanam told participants. During the conference, professor of neurology at Al- Azhar University Dr Magdi A. Dahab delivered a presentation on sleep disorders, noting that, 30 years ago, specialists in the United States concluded that adults need eight hours sleep every night. But the amount of sleep people need can differ from one person to the other . In Egypt, a sleep lab was established ten years ago to study people's brains, while they sleep. " Vital processes occur during sleep , such as the activation growth hormone at night . This hormone is a protein that stimulates cell reproduction. In addition, the immune system is activated at night, so it can perform all its functions properly. "Following delivery, a newborn needs to sleep for 20 hours a day, falling to 16 hours at six months. As people become older, they need less sleep,” Dr Dahab told the conference. “It's better to sleep deeply, if only for a few hours than to spend the whole night sleeping fitfully,” he commented, adding that the deepest sleep normally occurs between 3am and 5am. According to Dr Dahab, there is a hormone known as melatonin that urges humans to go to sleep. It is naturally produced by the pineal gland. “If one's sleeping patterns are disrupted, melatonin in the form of tablets can help one sleep. It's a good idea to have a specific time for going to sleep and waking up.” “Also before sleeping, avoid stimulants like coffee, tea and chocolate,” he advised conferees, adding that people who suffer from narcolepsy , a sleep disorder, are liable to fall asleep very suddenly …quot; anywhere, anytime. Professor of Psychiatry at Al-Azhar University Dr Hashim Bahari delivered a lecture on sleep patterns and addiction. He referred to a recent American study, which found that 64 per cent of people who suffer from insomnia take sleeping pills, although this is very risky. People who constantly take sedatives to fall asleep can become addicts, which means they now have two problems …quot; insomnia an addiction. The main purpose of his lecture was to urge junior specialiststo find ways to help patients with insomnia sleep better, without resorting to drugs he notes.
