Health Information

Tuberous sclerosis, also known as tuberous sclerosis complex, is a rare genetic condition that causes mainly non-cancerous (benign) tumours to develop in different parts of the body. The tumours most often affect the brain, skin, kidneys, heart, eyes and lungs.

Paralysis is loss of the ability to move one or more muscles. It may be associated with loss of feeling and other bodily functions. It is not usually caused by problems with the muscles themselves, but by problems with the nerves or spinal cord the brain uses to control muscles

Intracranial hypertension (IH) means abnormally high pressure inside the skull, which may happen suddenly or build up over time. It's an uncommon condition, with many different possible causes.

Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid on the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can damage it. The damage to the brain can cause a wide range of symptoms, including: headache being sick

Minor head injuries are common in people of all ages and should not result in any permanent damage. The symptoms of a minor head injury are usually mild and short lived. Symptoms may include:

Fainting is a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness that usually results in a fall. Healthcare professionals often use the term "syncope" when referring to fainting, because it distinguishes fainting from other causes of temporary unconsciousness, such as seizures (fits) or concussion.

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated seizures, which were sometimes previously referred to as "fits". Epilepsy is estimated to affect more than 500,000 people in the UK. This means that almost one in every 100 people has the condition.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a recording of brain activity.During the test, small sensors are attached to the scalp to pick up the electrical signals produced when brain cells send messages to each other.

A disorder of consciousness, or impaired conciousness, is a state where consciousness is affected by an injury to the brain. Consciousness refers to both wakefulness and awareness. Wakefulness is the ability to open your eyes and have basic reflexes such as coughing, swallowing and sucking

Concussion is the sudden but short-lived loss of mental function that occurs after a blow or other injury to the head. It is the most common but least serious type of brain injury.

A coma is a state of unconsciousness where a person is unresponsive and cannot be woken. It can result from injury to the brain, such as a severe head injury or stroke. A coma can also be caused by severe alcohol poisoning or a brain infection (encephalitis).

There are a number of different types of cerebrovascular disease. The four most common types are: stroke – a serious medical condition where one part of the brain is damaged by a lack of blood supply or bleeding into the brain from a burst blood vessel