MediPharm: Conditions: Nervous System

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What Does Your Nervous System Do?

Nerves carry messages back and forth between the brain and other parts of the body. All of your nerves together make up the nervous system.

Some nerves tell the brain what is happening in the body. For example, if you accidentally touch a hot stove, the nerves in your skin shoot a message of pain to your brain. Other nerves tell the body what to do. For example, nerves from the brain sends a message back telling the muscles in your hand to pull away from the hot stove.

Your nervous system is divided into two broad categories. Your central nervous system consists of your brain and spinal cord. All the other nerves in your body are part of your peripheral nervous system, which includes:

Sensory nerves, which receive feelings such as heat, pain or touch
Motor nerves that control how your muscles move
Autonomic nerves that control such automatic functions as blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder function

How Does Your Nervous System Work?

The basic functioning of the nervous system depends a lot on tiny cells called neurons. All neurons relay information to each other through a complex electrochemical process, making connections that affect the way we think, learn, move, and behave.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy, in its most common form, causes pain and numbness in your hands and feet. Neuropathy is common. It can occur at any age, but is more common among older adults and diabetics.

Signs and symptoms

Specific symptoms vary, depending on which types of nerves are affected. Signs and symptoms may include:

Gradual onset of numbness and tingling in your feet or hands, which may spread upwards into your legs and arms
Burning pain
Sharp, jabbing or electric-like pain
Extreme sensitivity to touch, even light touch
Lack of coordination
Muscle weakness or paralysis if motor nerves are affected
Bowel or bladder problems if autonomic nerves are affected

Risk factors

Diabetes, especially if your sugar levels are poorly controlled
Alcohol abuse
Vitamin deficiencies, particularly B vitamins
Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in which the immune system attacks your own tissues
Kidney, liver or thyroid disorders

Self-care

Some of the ways to manage peripheral neuropathy include taking care of your feet if you have diabetes, exercise regularly, quit smoking, eating healthy meals, massaging your hands and feet, and avoiding prolonged pressure on your nerves.

B Vitamins

If you are at high risk of neuropathy or have a chronic medical condition, healthy eating is especially important. Emphasize low-fat meats and dairy products and include lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet. Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.

Taking extra nutrients may help soothe your nerves and relieve pain by repairing and rebuilding the protective structures that usually protect your nerves.

In particular, the B vitamins, a large group of water-soluble vitamins, play an essential role in healthy nerve and brain function. They work together to maintain the function of the nervous system, support and maintain the metabolic rate, support the immune system, maintain healthy skin and muscles, and help to promote cell growth and division.

Lecithin

Lecithin is an ingredient of the membranes surrounding cells. Choline, the newest member of the B vitamin family, is present in our diet primarily as lecithin.

An essential nutrient, choline is a precursor for acetylcholine, a messenger molecule found in the nervous system. Acetylcholine, also called a neurotransmitter since it carries messages from and to nerves, is the body's primary chemical means of sending messages between nerves and muscles. Acetylcholine is frequently used by the nerves controlling breathing, heart rate, and skeletal muscle. It is also important in the portions of the brain responsible for memory and mood.

Bio-5 Lecithin 1200mg

Bio-Omega
Natural Fish Oil 1000mg

Executive
Bio B-Complex

Ginkgo Biloba
Leaf Extract 120mg