Understanding and Protecting Brain Health – Confessions from a Neurologist

Understanding and Protecting Brain Health – Confessions from a Neurologist

I am Luu Duy Khanh, a neurologist who has been accompanying thousands of patients on their journey to treat brain and nervous system diseases for more than 15 years. During my work, I have witnessed many cases where if detected and treated early, the patient's life could have been very different.

Our brain accounts for only about 2% of our body weight, but consumes up to 20% of the oxygen and 25% of the energy produced by the body. Each nerve cell is like a "signal station" that continuously transmits information, helping us think, move, remember and control all life functions. Therefore, any problem with the brain and nervous system can seriously affect the quality of life.

Some alarming figures

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year about 15 million people worldwide suffer from strokes; of which 1/3 die and 1/3 leave serious sequelae.

In China, every 12 seconds someone has a stroke.

The rate of chronic insomnia in adults ranges from 10–15%, and increases to 40% in the elderly.

Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide, many of whom are not diagnosed or treated properly.

These figures not only reflect the burden of disease but also serve as a reminder of the importance of taking care of mental health.

Harm and real-life situations

I once met a 48-year-old male patient, the director of a large company. He often had headaches, insomnia and forgetfulness, but subjectively thought it was just "work stress". One morning, he suddenly lost the ability to speak and was paralyzed on one side of his body - the result of an ischemic stroke. Despite intensive treatment, he still has to live with motor and language sequelae.

Another case is a 35-year-old female teacher who often has short seizures but does not go to the doctor. It is not until the seizures last longer and she loses consciousness that she is diagnosed with epilepsy. It is worth noting that if detected early, controlling the disease will be much simpler.

Common causes and susceptible ages

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke): common in people over 50 years old, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking or obesity.

Epilepsy: can occur at any age, but some types of epilepsy start in children or after traumatic brain injury in adults.

Encephalitis: usually caused by viruses, can occur in children and adults with weakened immune systems.

Sleep disorders: common in adults due to stress, living environment or accompanying diseases.

Dementia, memory disorders: often appear in people over 60 years old, but currently the trend of rejuvenation is increasing due to work pressure and unscientific lifestyle.

Prevention and improvement solutions

Regular health check-ups - especially blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids and specialized neurological tests if there are abnormal symptoms.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle: eat lots of green vegetables, fish, nuts; limit sugar, salt, saturated fat.

Exercise regularly: at least 150 minutes/week to improve cerebral blood circulation.

Get enough sleep: 7-8 hours per night; avoid using electronic devices before going to bed.

Stress management: through meditation, yoga or relaxing activities.

Recognize the early signs of a stroke: drooping mouth, weakness in limbs, difficulty speaking – and go to the hospital immediately.

Quick knowledge about the brain & nervous system

The human brain contains about 86 billion nerve cells (neurons), each of which connects to thousands of other cells through synapses.

The brain has no pain receptors, so headaches do not originate directly in the brain but in the surrounding tissues, blood vessels and nerves.

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (nerves that go to the whole body).

Every time you learn something new, the brain forms new synaptic connections – meaning we have the ability to “rewire” and adapt throughout our lives.

As a neurologist, I urge people not to ignore signs such as persistent headaches, forgetfulness, insomnia, seizures or numbness in the limbs. Brain health determines the quality of life, work capacity and happiness of each person. Take care of your brain and nervous system today – for a clear mind and a full life.