I’ve often criticised brain training – those cutesy computer games that supposedly make you smarter. It’s easy to judge when they don’t work. Stanford looked into the industry ages ago and found it was nothing but a pile of huge claims.

Play those games and you get better at them. That’s about all you could honestly say about them.

Do the benefits translate into a sharper, healthier and more resilient brain? Stanford doesn’t think so. And this is anecdotal, I know, but during my long stint of playing these games, I didn’t notice much change in my everyday life.

Unlike with the stuff Stanford says does work – unsexy, commonsense things like exercise, socialising and getting your hands dirty. I noticed a difference once I started deliberately doing these.

But I can make another criticism of brain training. After all, maybe some of them do work. Perhaps tomorrow someone will invent a game that actually makes you smarter.

This, I think, is the most damning accusation:

Brain training games are boring.

Sure, they start off kinda fun. You click here and memorise that. It’s all an exciting whirlwind of colours and shapes – especially as you get better at the game.

It gets old, fast. Eventually you start seeing it for all it is – a really simple computer game.

Mind training, on the other hand, is anything but boring.

It’s like how exercise engages your entire body and mind. If one routine bores you, there are billions of things you can try. Is the gym no longer cutting it? Try jogging, tennis, dancing or gardening. Find the right activity and you’ll struggle to feel bored.

That’s how you know it works, in a way. The brain wants to grow stronger. Mind training works, so you never lose interest. In fact, the more you do it, the more you crave it.

It’s the same with hypnotic trances. I can, and have, spent 9am to 6pm in various hypnotic states. What did I do as soon as I got home?

Put myself in a trance to experience it all over again.

Entering the trance state, whether through meditation or self-hypnosis, makes your mind stronger. It brings unconscious material into conscious awareness, expanding what you’re capable of. And the brain is meant to do this in the way your arm muscle is meant to lift heavy things.

The more you do it, the smarter you become… and the more you crave it.

And it doesn’t hurt that you can use hypnotic trances to clear old emotions, create new habits and access powerful mental states.

The right brain controls the left side of the body and the left brain controls the right side of the body. The right brain is the more creative or emotional hemisphere and the left brain is the analytical and judgmental hemisphere. Anything that is new or not familiar to an individual is right brain dominant. Anything that is familiar is left brain dominant.

Along with right and left brain there are different parts of the brain. The frontal lobe controls your personality, the temporal lobe deals with short and long term memory, the parietal lobe is the lobe of the hand, and the occipital lobe, the very back part of the head, controls vision.

There are specific activities that may stimulate the right or left brain.

Activities that stimulate the left brain are solving crossword or word search puzzles, performance of learned tasks, language usage, both comprehensive and expressive, analytical information, problem solving, and recalling new information. Geometric or spatial memory, hand gestures, writing one's name, classifications of pictures or words into categories, recalling complex narratives, recognizing someone you have met, and name recognition are also all left brain activities.

Activities that stimulate the right brain are emotional issues, the creative process, recalling memorized lists, any unfamiliar event or activity, and holding the attention span. Seeing or feeling different sizes, seeing different colors, attention exercises involving timing, seeing unfamiliar faces, and meeting someone new also stimulate the right brain ..

You are not dead until your brain is dead. Your brain needs two things to survive: fuel and activation. Fuel comes in the form of oxygen and glucose. Glucose comes from the food you eat, and oxygen comes from the air you breathe. The normal inspiration / expiration ratio should be exhalation twice as long as inhalation. That is to say – breathe out twice as long as you breathe in.

There are also specific treatment modalities that a clinician may utilize to increase function or activation of the right or left brain. One example is big letters made up of small letters. If you look at the small letters you will fire right cerebellum to left brain. If you look at the big letters you will fire left cerebellum to right brain.

Auditory stimulation (listening to nature sounds, clicks of a metronome, or Mozart in a major key) in the left ear comes up through the brain stem over to the right brain and vice versa for the right ear.

Visual stimulation from the left side in a checkerboard pattern using different colors comes up through the optic pathway to the brain stem and up to the right brain. The TENS unit set at subthreshold stimulates large diameter nerves which fire up to the cerebellum and to the opposite brain.

Thanks to all the pressures of modern living, we all discover that from time to time, we are often too tired or stressed to think. Nevertheless, this may not be the case since there are varieties of readily available spices, drinks, and foods that we can consume, not only to boost or energize our memory and help us focus, but also to delay or reverse the onset of debilitating diseases which affect the brain such as the Alzheimer's Disease.

Sometimes we all lose interest or focus in whatever we are doing due to stress or fatigue. By good luck, there are some supplements or foods that can improve focus, memory, and concentration, in accordance with the recent research by the World Health Organization (WHO). If you combine and mix these 'brain foods' with daily exercise, good night's sleep and good hydration, you could significantly boost your brain power. So if you are searching for ways to boost your memory, enhance concentration and stay focused, you can check out these simple and readily available foods that will make you smarter like Einstein in no time.

APPLES

Apples are the king of fruits and they are also known for the brain food. They are one of the foods that scientists say will contribute to overall good health, help you to think clearly and of course, boost your memory. We all know the old saying, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' and 'you are what you eat' which certainly stills holds true even today. So what makes the apple the top of this list? Well, they contain a certain group of compounds and nutrients such as pectin which are fiber, quercetin which protects and boosts memory, riboflavin which produces energy and lastly polyphenol which are strong antioxidants. These compounds help to protect the brain from the kind of damage that cause neuro degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Not only do they have brain power but they also help to lower blood cholesterol levels, build strong teeth and prevent the oxidation of bad LDL cholesterol (a chemical process that turns it into an artery clogging plague). They also decrease the risk of liver, lung, colon, breast and other cancer as well as asthma and heart disease.What a wonderful fruit! Also, make sure that you eat the peel as the apple skin has 2 to 6 times the antioxidants as the flesh.Cherries, oysters, berries and even curry also have a high rank among foods that can help boost your brain, promote heart health and give you energy.

CINNAMON

Did you know that cinnamon was worth more than gold to the ancient Egyptians? This is mostly because cinnamon was long believed to have healthy and medicinal properties which made it extremely valuable. There are thousands of man made supplements, food products and chemically manufactured tablets that claim to increase or boost brain power but none of these offers the delicious, tasty flavor cinnamon does. Even today, cinnamon is still one of the most consumed and used products in the world. It is a sweet smelling spice that has been found to boost and energize brain activity and help to relieve memory loss and nervous tension. Cinnamon is also a safe and tasty method to slow down the aging process. Chewing cinnamon flavored gum or just smelling it can help to improve and enhance the cognitive process. It also contains a chemical compound known as sodium benzoate which is used to treat neural disorders. Cinnamon has 3 active compounds which make it so nutritious such as the Cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamyl acetate. It also contains a flavonol range and other antioxidants along with a remarkable amount of fiber, calcium, and manganese. These compounds have proved to boost memory, curb food cravings, reverse or delay cognitive impairment and benefit Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetic patients. Cinnamon is indeed nature's wonder spice.

COFFEE

Coffee is the planets most single valuable traded food commodity with more than 2 billion cups enjoyed worldwide daily. It's effectiveness as a high-performance brain fuel continues to make it liquid gold and it is not surprising that it's main active ingredient is caffeine. Coffee helps you to wake up in the mornings and keeps you active throughout the day. So how does this magic ingredient help boost your brain? Well, as the caffeine hits the brain it suppresses a neurotransmitter known as adenosine, which influences alertness, concentration, and attention. It works up on your brain during the day just like a mercury rising in the thermometer. Caffeine also stimulates brain chemicals such as dopamine and glutamate which helps and gives you an energy surge, improve your mental performance and slows down the age related mental decline. It also increases serotonin (a major mood influencer) and improves learning up to 10 percent. Caffeine has even proved to relieve headaches and migraines, benefit Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type 2 diabetic patients. There is also a downside to coffee since caffeine can affect sleep patterns and evidence also suggests that there's an association between daily intake of caffeine, day time sleepiness and sleep quality.Coffee is truly a perfect method to energize and boost your brain.

CHOCOLATE

Today chocolate is considered an anti flammatory, anti aging 'superfood' for both the brain and the body. But how does this lenient treat live up to its plug? Eating amounts of dark chocolate is guaranteed to have many health benefits as they assist the brain to release chemicals known as endorphins (which help the brain to function much better). The studies examining the health benefit of chocolate continue to show new and appealing benefits of chocolate, especially in the realms of mood, cognitive function, and heart or blood vessel health. Also eating chocolate can improve anxiety and depression symptoms and help improve feelings of contentedness. If you consume the right kinds of chocolate every day, they can help to keep your mind sharp and alert, keep your cardiovascular pumping and keep your mood happy and calm. For instance, cocoa chocolate and dark chocolate are best known to boost attention, working memory speed, brain processing speed and speech fluency (even to the elderly). These chocolates are a rich source of flavanols, which are compounds that boost the brain activity and enhance mood effects as well. You can eat as little as a third chocolate per day to increase the blood flow to your brain and also protect yourself against age related issues such as memory loss.

EGGS

According to the latest news in nutrition, eggs are now back from exile just on time to help the aging America from memory loss. Eggs, and especially the yolk, have received a lot of attention with controversy over their cholesterol content. So how do eggs actually help to boost the memory? Well, as it turns out, eggs are packed with choline, that your brain converts to acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter that assists the brain cells to keep the memories intact and communicates with each other). With less than 80 calories each, eggs are comparatively loaded with protein and they have a low calorie. Eggs are also packed with cholesterol which made them end up on the 'bad for you' list in the first place over the past few decades.One York has 200 mg of cholesterol, and for many years, it was believed that dietary cholesterol was the major contributor and cause of heart disease. But it appears that it was mistaken much like the tenacious myth that skims milk is much healthier than whole milk. Eggs contain many nutritive elements that your brain and other body cells need every day. They are rich in choline, vitamin B12, and folate which is good for boosting g your memory.

WATER

Your body was designed to work in a specific way just like any other machine that has specific instructions about what it requires and how to keep it operating optimally. Over 70 per cent of your body is made of water and every function in the body depend on the water including the activities of the nervous system and the brain. Your body is also composed of a delicate balance of minerals, electrons, and organic compounds most of which are supplied through the water that you drink. Therefore, it is proven that if you're not well hydrated, it can affect your focus, cause headaches, lead to memory loss, cause depression, sleeping problems, anger issues and brain fatigue. Drinking water provides your brain with enough electrical energy for all the brain functions including memory processes. You will also be able to think fast, be more focused, experience great creativity and clarity and even reduce the risk of neurotransmitter diseases. It is quite easy to integrate a few supplements or foods that will enhance your memory and focus in your daily diet. You can take an egg in the morning, a cup of green tea after lunch, some curry in your spaghetti sauce at supper time and a lot of water to keep the brain working well.

OILY FISH

No doubt you have possibly heard that eating fish can make you smarter, which to some extent is completely true. Eating oily fish that are high in the essential omega 3 or fatty acids such as salmon, trout, sardines tilapia and other fish can help to boost the brain. Fatty acids that are found in fish and seafood are crucial components of our brain cells and they improve learning strength and memory function by up to 15 per cent. Studies show that eating food rich in omega 3 can boost the blood flow of the brain, improve the performance of mental tasks and reduce the risks of suffering from neurotransmitter diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Also by eating oily fish, you can increase your brain size in later life and also help to prevent age related mental decline. Fish have added the benefit of containing the nutrient choline (a chemical which is essential for memory). Since the solid (non-water) part of your brain is composed of fat, you must provide it with 'good fats' or the essential fatty acids through your diet because the body doesn't produce them. Fish is really an amazing brain food.

SPINACH

A single bunch of spinach can perform wonders for your brain. Spinach was long promoted as the food which gave Popeye his convex muscles. Spinach is loaded with antioxidants which scientists say could block the effects of the free radicals, toxins produced by the body which damage cells and cause cancer, strokes and heart disease. It is also a great source of folate and a kind of vitamin K and vitamin E which help to boost the brain memory. It contains flavonoids that act as potent antioxidants which slow the effects of aging on the brain. It also boosts learning capacity and motor skills. A few leaves of cooked spinach loads a third of foliate and 5 times the amount of Vitamin K that you require in a day. Maybe this is why a neurology study in 2006 reveals that eating three plates of leafy-green, cruciferous and yellow vegetables a day can reverse or delay cognitive decline by 40 percent. Spinach has not only proved to help the brain but it also gives a knock-out punch to cancer and it even protects and improves eyesight. Spinach is packed with high-quality nutrition enough to make you feel like the bulging Popeye.

GRAPE JUICE

Grape juice contains protein, fiber, copper, iron, potassium, folate vitamins A, K, C and B2. They are also rich in polyphenols and natural sugar, which must be consumed in moderation. Therefore, including a glass of tasty grape juice in your daily diet might just boost your memory and your brain performance. It also helps those who live a stressful lifestyle like working mothers. Studies show that by adding a glass of grape juice (especially concord grape juice) to the daily diet might boost memory function and performance of highly stressed people and even in elder people with mild declines of memory. Concord grape juice is a rich and good source of polyphenols and potent antioxidants which mop up or clear harmful reactive species of oxygen which have been recognized as the key to the ageing process. So by consuming or adding concord grape juice to your daily diet for about three months you may boost your spatial memory and drive performance. Grape juice not only helps to boosts your memory but it also protects you from cancer, lowers bad cholesterol, improves cardiovascular health, fights fatigue and it improves eyesight. It is also evident that grape juice also has a long term effect which can allow you to consistently maintain a better performance even when you have stopped drinking it.

IRON

Iron deficiency is the most common condition that is often linked to numerous adverse effects like diminished intelligence, short attention span and difficulty in concentrating. Iron is a required nutrient for it the production of hemoglobin (the component in red blood cells that carries oxygen and delivers it to the tissues). If iron becomes deficient in your body, hemoglobin levels can fail and then cause anemia. Iron also participates in the making of the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) like dopamine and serine which have broadly advantageous effects on the brain function and mood as well. An easy blood test is conducted to determine whether you have iron deficiency. Study shows that adult women require 18 mg of iron every day, post menopausal women and men require 8 mg every day. Adding more iron rich foods will not automatically boost your brain power, but being even mildly deficient in iron could negatively impact memory, learning and attention span. Chicken livers are on offer the top sources of food that is rich in iron, with 12.8mg per 3 – ounce serving. Even though they are high in cholesterol, they are comparatively low in saturated fat. Other sources of food that are rich in iron are oysters (with nearly 10 mg per dozen) and the lean beef (with 6 mg per ounces). Also beans, vitamin C and iron fortified cereals help the body to absorb iron.

Blackberries

If you want to slow down your ageing process and also preserve your brain's activity and vitality, the secret to doing so is by taking blackberries. These juicy and delicious berries have a phenomenal anti oxidant properties which boost your brain power and nourish your body. They contain high amounts of ellagic acid and garlic acid, a well known chemo preventative (with anti bacterial and anti viral properties). They are also rich in fiber and vitamin C which have been shown to help decrease the risks of certain cancers. They have low carbohydrates, calories (70 calories per cup) and they have no fat. This means that you can take a lot of this stupendous fruit without having the guilt or sabotaging you weight loss target or objectives. These taste and delicious fruit contains several micro nutrients which work wonders on your body. Blackberries are indeed an amazing superfruit.

Brain cancer is a serious medical condition that is often referred to by medical professionals as “Meningioma” and also as “Glioma”. When an individual has this type of cancer, it means that there are abnormal cells growing in and/or around the brain. This form of cancer may develop from the brain cells that are considered to be primary, but it could develop from cells that are specific to certain locations in and around the brain.

These regions include the membranes and even the small blood vessels within or around the brain. There are types of cancer that result from cells that spread from other regions in the body – such as organs. In this brain health guide, you will learn about details pertaining to brain cancer.

What is a Brain Tumor?

When an individual has brain cancer, it indicates that they also have a brain tumor. The abnormal cell growth that indicates brain cancer is referred to as a tumor. Tumors, while abnormal, are not always cancerous. Those that are simple growths and are not cancerous are identified as “Benign”. Tumors that are found to possess cells that are cancerous are identified as “Malignant”.

If these tumors are identified in the brain or the area surrounding the brain, they are considered to be quite serious and even have the potential to be life-threatening. This is mostly due to the fact that the cancer contained within these tumors has the capability of spreading in a rapid fashion. Tumors are further identified as “Primary” and “Secondary” among medical professionals.

The Cause

There are many theories on why brain cancer develops, but there is no one specific cause that has been identified. Scientists and medical researchers are still conducting tests and researching the onset of brain cancer in order to better understand it.

The tumors that are identified as “Primary” are believed to be a result of abnormal cell growth in the actual tissues of the brain, while the “Secondary” tumors appear to result from abnormal cell growths from other locations of the body and then travel through the bloodstream until they reach the brain. The other theories surrounding the development of brain cancer identify the following as risk factors:

• Many seem to have a genetic predisposition towards developing brain cancer when someone in the family had the condition in the past.

• Certain individuals are at a higher risk for developing this condition due to the fact that they work in certain professions, such as those that are professional embalmers and those that work in refineries for oil production.

• Radiation exposure or overexposure may result in brain cancer.

• Smoking has been established as a common risk factor of developing this form of cancer.

• There are many theories that are considered a bit unusual, yet are being investigated to determine if they result in brain cancer. These theories include the use of sweeteners that are artificial, cell phone use, consistent computer exposure, head traumas, and even consuming foods that are processed and/or heated in a microwave.

If you are concerned that you or a loved has this cancer, it is important to make an appointment with a medical professional as soon as possible. Many cases of brain cancer may be resolved immediately if they are caught early enough. Even if there is no way to treat the cancer, there are treatments that will soothe the symptoms associated with cancer.

Several years ago when I worked as a psychologist I met a woman in her early thirties. She came to see me because she felt overwhelmed by current life challenges. I asked her how she had handled difficult times in the past. She told me that could not think of any such times in her life. Now that she finally faced a challenge she had no idea where to start in dealing with it.

This is the theme of the book. Our children from their first years through college have often been overprotected (coddled) to the point where they have little resilience when faced with challenges which are an inevitable part of life. The authors present three untruths which have gotten us into trouble. These are as follows:

1. What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker.
2. Always trust your feelings.
3. Life is a battle between good and evil.

Together these myths lead us to being fragile in the face of difficulty, relying on our emotions when we should think rationally and seeing life as a battle between us (good) and them (evil).

By coddling the authors mean over concern about emotional safety. By protecting our children from any emotional unpleasantness, we make them less resilient in the face of difficulty. They are not suggesting that reasonable care in the face of danger is unwise. But they do hold that children and adults learn to be resilient by facing challenges and learning to manage them rather than be overprotected from them. They also suggest that be seeing potential enemies as less than human it is extremely difficult to find mutually agreeable solutions to our differences.

Much of the book addresses the nature of our conflicts with each other, how false ideas keep us apart and trends in society which reduce our ability to become resilient.

To address these negative and unhelpful trends, the authors suggest ways to reverse them. Among these approaches is preparing children for life rather than trying to smooth out every bump in their life’s path. A second approach is learning how to evaluate the usefulness of our own thoughts which can harm us even more than others can when we take them at face value. Napoleon Hill would have asked what evidence you have for what you believe. Another is to refrain from seeing everyone as good or evil by giving people the benefit of the doubt and practicing emotional humility. Finally we need to help our children become resilient by giving them opportunities to learn problem solving and conflict resolution by not protecting them from anything unpleasant.

Finally they see education as not just an exercise in memorizing facts. It should also be a laboratory for students to learn how to manage their difficulties and conflicts and to learn to challenge their own thoughts and emotions. This also includes learning to understand others and to negotiate resolution of our differences.

I found this to be a comprehensive treatment of the mistakes we make in judging our own thoughts and emotions and how we get stuck in our differences with others. They also suggest clear paths to learning how to deal with others in a compassionate way and how to teach these values to our children. They also present the principles of cognitive behavior therapy which we can use to evaluate our own thoughts and emotions and replace them with more rational beliefs when necessary. If this becomes too difficult to manage alone, they suggest approaching a therapist who can help you think more clearly for the sake of your own life and your relationships.

I miss you and you’re not gone, my friend why you have to go?  You will stay forever in my heart. What can I say other than I love you.  The joy I feel is in the blessings that you brought to me and my family by being a great friend. Always there to jump to my aid, never asking for much in return. My friend who is always up for a good time, taking everyone around her along for the ride. Our good times out number the bad. Know deep in your heart that I love you to and if I could fix it I would. I am scared, angry and confused. Why you? Why now?  My friend I miss you already and your not gone. I know that you are fighting to stay and I love that…wouldn’t have it any other way. I got your back and a shoulder to rest on. Let me wipe your tears away, as we laugh about in the day. You are my friend I love you. I wrote this for you Lee Ann my friend I hope you get to hear it, I wrote from my heart.

Diagnosed with a stage 4 brain tumor my closest friend may not have too much time left that she will know who I am. I am a fixer, and there is nothing that I can do to make her better. The questions I have might help me understand how this could happen and how fast it has taken it’s toll on everyone in our close circle of love.

These are my questions about brain tumors:

• What are Brain tumors?
• What are the Symptoms?
• What next when dealing with brain cancer?
• How much time?
• How could we have missed them?

Here’s what I found:

A brain tumor is an abnormal cell mass that grows in or on the brain. They are either a primary tumor (tumor that begins in the brain) or metastatic tumors ( form from cancer already in the body and travels to the brain.) Some are cancer and some are not. 194,000 American are diagnosed with some type of brain tumor every year. 44,000 are primary tumors. Many are undiagnosed until they become life threatening.

Symptoms are sometime over looked, headaches may come and go, appetite may be decreased, temporary memory loss, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, hot flashes and sweats, fatigue, sleeplessness and depression. Most common are headaches and seizures. The location of the brain which the tumor develops can cause different symptoms. This site gives you the symptoms for the area that the tumor is located. Very helpful in empowering you with understanding what to do next and how to deal with this chapter in your life.

So many of the symptoms my friend has are the same as menstruation or menopause in women. Having symptoms that come and go may not raise any red flags. Many people go undiagnosed until, it is found by accident or like my friend who’s symptoms mirror the symptoms of menopause . When she finally could not avoid her family telling her, it’s time to find out what is going on with your health. A trip to the doctors didn’t help they even missed the red flags and discounted it because of the clarity of her mind and how she could articulate how she was feeling when she would visit. She is at the age most women go through the change. Her daughter forced her to go to the Emergency Room and after a ct scan she was diagnosed.

The treatments are different for each type of tumor. Your age and physical condition may effect the type of treatment recommended. When diagnosed you may want a second opinion and is recommended for anyone that may be going through denial or is seeking treatments at other facility. A neurologist dose not have to see you to give his option or help with you treatments. Insurance is a big determining factor in health care and you may need to get a second opinion before starting treatment. Make sure you asks as questions you have about the best, worst and everything from what next and how to cope with this diagnosed.

The steps are MRI, brain biopsy and treatment. Surgery maybe recommend along with chemo and radiation. Each treatment is customized for each person.

I am hopeful that it is not as bad. It is bad and I am having such a hard time dealing with the diagnosis. So I started to find all that I could about brain tumors and I am amazed and still fill with hope. The doctors deal everyday with patients are willing to answer all questions. The Doctors are straightforward and want to work with anyone seeking  treatment. Our doctors are there to advise us and help us make decisions on how to proceed.

Time is the one thing that we are not get more of make the most of it. Physicians that work with brain tumor patients  try to give you the best chance of quality time. The treatments are getting better enabling you to recovery faster.

Asks anything and write down or record the answers so you are fully aware of the choices you have to make. Denial, depression, anger, forgetfulness and the feeling of loss are common for those who have a brain tumor or their family and close friends.

Questions you and your family may have.

• What are the effects of a brain tumor?
• What causes a brain tumor?
• How fast do they develop?
• How can I fight this?
• Is it worth the fight?

You can find the symptoms just go to American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA.org) while your there you can educate yourself on treatments as well.

I love my friend and I want her last months or years to be well informed on the treatments and the side effects. To have the quality of life that is pain free and will bring her joy. I am here for her family and wish I lived closer so I could help with her fight, yes her fight to regain the time she has left. To ease her mind that she is truly loved and to wrap my arms around her again for she is one of my favorite people I love her.

Unless the Lord had been my help, I would soon have dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness,O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul! PSALM 94: 17-19

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain or central spine, that is responsible for proper brain functionality. Doctors refer to a problem based on where the tumor cells originated, and whether they are cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (Benign)

Benign-The least aggressive of the tumor is benign tumor. They originate from cells within or surrounding the brain, do not contain cancer cells, grow slowly, and typically have clear borders.

Malignant- Malignant type contains cancer cells and often do not have clear borders. They are considered to be life threatening because they grow rapidly and invade surrounding brain tissue.

Primary- Tumors that start in cells of the brain are called primary brain tumors. The tumor can spread to the other parts of the brain or to the spine.

Metastatic- Secondary type begins in the part of the body and then spread to the brain. These tumors are more common than primary brain tumors.

Symptoms

When the brain tumor is suspected, a number of tests may be done to help the doctor reach a brain tumor diagnosis. These tests may also be able to help the doctor determine what kind of tumor it is.

Some of the tests performed to first diagnose the tumor and later used to monitor progress- to see, if the tumor has disappeared, is striking, remains the same or has changed in the same way.

The doctors, nurses, and other professionals give these tests can provide an answer, information, reassurance to help one feel more at ease.

The most common symptoms of a brain tumor include

• Headaches

• Numbness in arms and legs

• Memory problems

• Balance and walking problems

• Nausea and vomiting

• Change in speech, vision, or hearing

Brain tumors grades

Brain tumor is classified as grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 type of tumor

Grade 1- Benign tumors with a slow growth rate, look like normal brain cells.

Grade 2- Malignant tumors that look less normal than the grade 1 tumors.

Grade 3- Malignant tumors that look very different from normal cells. They grow actively and look distinctly abnormal.

Grade 4- Malignant tumors with distinctly abnormal-looking cells that grow and spread rapidly.

Diagnosis

To diagnose a type, the doctor starts by asking questions about your symptoms and taking a personal and family health history. Then he/she perform a physical exam including a neurological exam. If there’s reason to suspect a brain tumor, the doctor may request one or more of the following tests.

• Imagine studies such as CT scan or MRI to see detailed images of the brain.

• Angiogram, which involves the use of dye and X-ray of blood vessels in the brain to look for the signs of the type or abnormal blood vessels.

• The doctor may also ask for a Biopsy to determine whether or not the tumor is cancer. A tissue sample is removed from the brain either during surgery to remove the tumor with the needle inserted through a small hole drilled.

• Options include treatment by surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

How are it can be treated

Surgery to remove the brain tumor is typically the first option, once a brain tumor has been diagnosed. However, some tumor can’t be surgically removed because of their location in the brain. In those cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both options for killing and shrinking the tumor.

Because treatment for cancer also can damage healthy tissue, it’s important to discuss possible side and long term effects of whatever treatment is being used with your doctor. Rehabilitation could involve working with different therapies

• Physical therapist to regain strength and balance

• Speech therapist to address problem with speaking, expressing thought

• Occupational therapist to help manage daily activities such as using bathing and dressing the wound properly.

You've probably heard about the brain-body connection, but have you heard about the connection between your brain and your gut?

My hope is that this article will provide you with some interesting information on this subject.

The brain-gut connection is a scientific principle that serves as a link between neurology, the branch of medicine studying disorders of the nervous system, and nutrition, the science of consuming foods that are necessary for our health.

I have a question for you. What does food mean to you? Do you see it as fuel for energy? Is it a means of nutrition for maintaining a healthy body? Or maybe you think of food in terms of just the pleasure you get from consuming it?

Whatever your answer is, the food you choose to take into your body affects both your physical and mental health. You could even view it as a piece of information that tells your body how to maintain your health.

Most people don't think of food as a source of disease … or, conversely, as a source of healing.

For instance, neuroscience tells us that cognitive problems could be related to a poor diet.

Is a gut really an important factor for mental health? Yes, it is. The gut has another name: "the second human brain." Why do you think science has chosen to call a part of the digestion system by that name?

Here's why: Ninety percent of serotonin and dopamine, well known brain neurotransmitters, are produced in the gut-not in the brain. What's even more surprising is that 99% of human DNA (the carrier of genetic information) comes from the bacteria in your gut and has nothing to do with your parents.

One of the functions of the vagus nerve, which extends from the brain and passes through several organs all the way to the gut, is controlling food digestion.

The gut is the place in our body where inflammation starts. Inflammation ( https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflammation ) is the cause of many diseases, including cognitive impairment (ie, trouble remembering, learning, concentrating, and making decisions). Inflammation causes heart disease and cancer, as well.

We can say that whatever happens in the gut has a big impact on the brain. The food, and your food choices, are fundamentally important to your overall health.

The science is positive: 50% of all Alzheimer's disease cases are preventable simply by choosing the right foods. Think about this statement before buying your food at the supermarket or when ordering a meal in a restaurant.

You've just learned some important reasons to take your gut more seriously.

If you want to live a healthy life, learn more about your food intake, good / bad bacteria, pro- and pre-biotics, and other information about your gut.

Are you really paying attention to your food intake and to the brain-gut connection? If not, don't you think it's time that you do?

Brain cancer is a disease in which particular cells in the brain grow and form a mass that interferes with the general functioning of the brain like muscle control, sensation, memory and such other functions that help you control your body. Tumors that are made up of cancerous cells grow and spread to other parts of the brain. These are called malignant tumors. Those tumors that are non cancerous, do not spread and are basically localized. These are called benign tumors. Primary tumors are those that develop in the brain cells. Secondary tumors are those that develop in other parts of the body and then spread to the brain. These are also called as metastatic tumors.

Brain cancer grades

There are four different classifications of brain cancers:

Grade I – Benign tumors with a slow growth rate. Look like normal brain cells.

Grade II – Malignant tumors that look less normal than Grade I tumors.

Grade III – Malignant tumors that look very different from normal cells. They grow actively and look distinctly abnormal.

Grade IV – Malignant tumors with distinctly abnormal looking cells that grow and spread rapidly.

Brain tumor cancer treatment

Brain cancer treatment approach is customized as per individual diagnosis. The treatments depend on the cancer type, the location in the brain, the size of the tumor and the age and general health of the patient.

The treatment options for brain tumors are categorized as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. As per individual diagnosis, a combination of any of the above mentioned methods is used.

With surgery, the tumor is cut away from normal tissues. This is an invasive approach to treat cancer. The other two methods are non invasive. Radiation therapy helps destroy the tumor with high energy radiation that is focused on the tumor to destroy the cells. It destroys the ability of the tumor to replicate and spread. Generally X – Rays or Gamma rays are used for this purpose. The radiation is highly focused and does not affect the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.

In chemotherapy, certain drugs and medicines are used to destroy the tumor causing cells. There are many types of drugs used. These drugs are designed to fight different types of cancer cells. The entire procedure keeps the healthy cells safe from the effects of the drugs.

Some tumors are declared as inoperable because, surgically removing them can negatively impact other parts of the brain. The surgeon takes this call. However, it is very important to understand that one surgeon may declare a tumor inoperable, but another surgeon may be able to operate it. It's a good idea to take a few opinions before giving up.

Other treatment options may include heat treatments and immunotherapy. For all the procedures mentioned, there are some side effects. With surgery, there could be swelling, a possible damage to healthy tissues or seizures. With chemotherapy, patients can experience nausea, vomiting, hair loss and low energy levels. Radiation therapy is known to have similar side effects as chemotherapy.

The formation of abnormal cells inside the brain often result in a brain tumor. Brain tumors are of two types: benign tumors and malignant / cancerous tumors. This means that all brain tumors are not cancerous but only the malignant type.

Malignant tumors are further divided by primary tumors which form inside the brain and secondary tumors which originate from elsewhere inside the body. The latter type is also termed as brain metastasis tumors.

Risk factors

A risk factor is anything which may increase the possibility of developing a tumor in one's brain. While risk factors have a part to play in developing it, most of them do not really cause it. People with several risk factors may never develop a brain tumor while those with none may do.

Some of the common risk factors are:

• Age: Though brain tumors are common in older adults and children, anybody may develop them at any age.
• Gender: Males are more likely to develop brain cancer than females; though certain types of it, for instance meningioma, are common only in women.
• Exposures: The risk of developing brain tumors increases when exposed to pesticides, solvents, rubber, vinyl chloride and oil products.
• Family History: About 5% of brain tumors may occur due to hereditary factors, such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis and Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
• Seizures and head injury: Serious head trauma often result in the development of brain tumors.

Symptoms

The symptoms of brain tumors vary depending on the type of tumor and its size, location and growth rate. The usual symptoms include:

• Severe headaches
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Sensory changes
• Memory changes
• Vision changes
• Difficulty in sleeping

Diagnosis

Doctors follow a lot of test procedures to diagnose a brain tumor and its type. They also do tests to identify whether or not the tumor has spread to a different part of the body, which is known as metastasis.

The following things are considered by doctors to decide on the type of the diagnostic test:

• The patient's signs and symptoms
• The patient's age and health condition
• The type of the tumor suspected

Doctors do different types of tests depending on the aforementioned factors. Some of these include:

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): It is used to have a detailed image of the body and measure the size of the tumor. If a tumor is detected, tissue of the tumor is collected through surgery or biopsy in order to identify its type.
• CT scan: Unlike MRI which uses magnetic field, CT scan provides a 3D picture of the body through X-rays. It helps identify bleeding inside the brain and changes to bone inside the skull.
• Lumbar puncture: In this procedure, doctors take a sample of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) through a needle to identify tumor cells or biomarkers. Biomarkers are substances present in the urine, spinal fluid, or other fluids of people with a certain type of cancer.
• Vision, neurological and hearing tests: These test are done to determine whether or not the tumor is affecting the functioning of the brain.

Treatment

Upon diagnosing a brain tumor, a medical team is formed to determine the possible treatment options. There are some treatment options available to get rid of it, including:

• Surgery: It involves resecting the tumor either partially or completely
• Chemotherapy: Drugs are administered here to do away with tumor cells, though they may result in side effects
• Radiotherapy: This is the most usual treatment option where the tumor is destroyed with gamma rays or x-rays

Finally, brain cancer should be treated immediately upon the diagnosis in order to avoid any long-term physical disabilities and even death.