15 Facts You Didnt Know About The Brain

[Sadia Hashmi]

The human brain is the most amazing and baffling organ of our body, as well as the source of many mysteries. Although the human brain makes only 2 percent of our body weight it has over 100,000 miles of blood vessels! Its the source of every pain we feel, and yet it doesnt have any pain sensors inside! The brain develops at the rate of 250,000 neurons per minute in early pregnancy! Check out some unbelievable facts about the most fascinating structure of the world, the human brain:

 

[Night_Hawk]

World Brain Day: Health experts link stress with mental illnesses in country

[h=1]World Brain Day: Health experts link stress with mental illnesses in country[/h] By Sehrish Wasif
Published: July 22, 2014

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has launched the event and dedicated it to highlighting the importance of brain health and prevention of brain diseases, a largely underestimated health problem. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The country is going to observe the first ever World Brain Day on Tuesday (today) to create awareness and promote advocacy of brain health.


The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has launched the event and dedicated it to highlighting the importance of brain health and prevention of brain diseases, a largely underestimated health problem.


Health experts feel that in developing countries like Pakistan, the significance of brain health has not been highlighted and there is no national policy for the prevention and control of neurological disorders.


They are of the view that factors behind these mental disorders are deteriorating law and order situation, insecurity, inflation, lack of justice and other necessities of life like electricity, water, gas and unemployment.


Talking to The Express Tribune, an official of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said the number of neurological disorders in the country is on the rise due to various factors.


How can a country progress when its citizens have weak or poor mental health, he said, requesting anonymity.
The official said in 2001, the Pakistan Mental Health Ordinance was formulated and no one knows of its current status.


There is an urgent need to implement a national mental health policy to prevent and control brain disorders which is increasing at an alarming rate and can create havoc in the near future said the official.


The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that every year 350,000 new cases of strokes are being reported while the prevalence rate of epilepsy is nine per 100,000. On the other hand, there are only 320 psychiatrists in the country to deal with 176 million patients, according to WHO estimates.


Dr Shahid Ali Khan, head of psychiatry department at NESCOM Hospital said every day he receives 30-40 patients suffering from various kind of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders and headaches, among others. However, two years ago the number of patients who would visit him was give to 10 every day, he recalled.

People are depressed over issues which can be resolved or controlled, such as inflation, unemployment, terrorism and power outrages, he said.


Young people who mostly visit him are stressed about not getting admissions in colleges and universities due to their financial issues or not getting a job as they do not have the right references, he said.


Such worries keep them up at night and they start smoking or taking drugs to get rid of the stress, he said.
Dr Khan was of the view that the government should concentrate on improving the mental health of people by providing them a peaceful and healthy environment to reside in.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2014.

 

[Night_Hawk]

World Brain Day: Reading, writing, exercise can prevent neurological diseases, say experts

World Brain Day: Reading, writing, exercise can prevent neurological diseases, say experts

By Our Correspondent
Published: July 22, 2014

"The stroke is the second fatal disease after heart attacks," said Prof Wasay Shakir, the president of the Pakistan Society of Neurology (PSN). PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: If people read, write and exercise regularly, they can prevent risk of brain-related diseases, revealed neurological experts on Monday.
These experts shared that neurological diseases are on the rise in Pakistan. The stroke is the second fatal disease after heart attacks, said Prof Wasay Shakir, the president of the Pakistan Society of Neurology (PSN). Pakistan has more than 20 million people with brain-related diseases and this number is more than of heart and cancer patients.

At the press conference held at Karachi Press Club to mark World Brain Day on Monday, Prof Shakir also shared that there is no exact data available in the country but it is estimated that 250 out of 100,000 people suffer a stroke. Nearly 350,000 people are being reported every year, he added.
The head of the neurology department of Baqai University, Dr Arif Herekar, said that prevention is better. Motorcyclists dont use helmets and get traumatic brain injuries, he pointed out. He also said that due to poverty and stress, the diets of most people is not up to the standard.
Dr Abdul Malik, another neurologist and the general secretary of the PSN, stressed that the use of tobacco and non-smoking tobacco, including ghutka, mainpurri, should be restrained. The government is not taking appropriate measures, especially to deal with strokes. About 21.8 per cent cases of stroke are being reported in Karachi.
Pakistan is the sixth largest country in terms of population and the major reason behind strokes is economic conditions.
Sharing the number of patients with Parkinsons disease, Prof Shakir said that it is about four million among people who are older than 60 years.
The treatment and prevention of all brain-related diseases are available but the number of patients is increasing due to limited resources and late confirmation of the diseases, Prof Shakir informed.
According to the neurologists, Pakistan has only 170 neurologists. This number is much less compared to its overall population. About 75 per cent of public hospitals, medical colleges and universities and 95 per cent of district hospitals do not have a single neurologist, the speakers informed. They said that 10 to 20 neurologists are being produced in Pakistan every year but half of them leave the country due to good salary packages and better working environments elsewhere.
The government hasnt realised the seriousness of the diseases yet, therefore, it hasnt taken any measures, said Prof Shakir. The treatment is really expensive but the government can promote prevention measures and awareness drives, he suggested.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2014.

 

[Sadia Hashmi]

World Brain Day is being observed for the first time to create public awareness of factors which can lead to stroke (brain hemorrhage).

Neurologist Dr Maimoona Siddiqui told Dawn that in Pakistan as many as 350,000 cases of stroke were reported each year.

“In western countries average age for the stroke is 60 years but in Pakistan that age is almost 50 years. Strokes can be avoided by taking precautionary measures,” she said.
“Pakistan Society of Neurology (PSN) has suggested hospitals and neurologists to arrange events and create awareness among people,” she said.

“As many as 13 per cent neurological disorders lead to stroke. Dementia, headache, depression, migraine, epilepsy, tumours, traumatic injury, infections, sleep disorders and genetic disorders can lead to stroke which is the main cause of disability all over the world,” she said.

“It is necessary to inform people to take precautionary measures because in case of stroke the whole family suffers,” she said.


The theme chosen for first year’s campaign is ‘Our brain — Our future’. The events are taking place in collaboration with WFN and neurological societies worldwide including PSN.

http://www.dawn.com/

 

[optimistic]

rest apart i donot think the storage capacity of brain is 4terabyte, despite the comparison being irrelevant the if brain's memory was translated into digital memory, it would be 2500terabytes....

http://io9.com/if-your-brain-were-a-computer-how-much-storage-space-w-509687776