Introduction
Unsteadiness or clumsiness refer to loss of co-ordination of body movement caused by brain disorders which are known as Ataxia. Patients with Ataxia have normal muscle power but great difficulty in movement. In severe cases, patients end up having frequent falls, resulting in injuries.
As Ataxia can be caused by Stroke, which is a life threatening condition, patients who have this symptom are advised to immediately the advice of Neurologist.
What are the causes of Ataxia?
Stroke
The most common cause of Ataxia is Stroke – blockage of the blood vessel in the brain or bleeding in the brain. Patients usually have other symptoms such as headache, vomiting, difficulty in speaking, numbness, dizziness (vertigo) and unsteadiness. The symptoms of Stroke start suddenly, within a few minutes over half an hour. As stated above, this is an emergency condition.
Brain Tumour / Cancer
Brain Tumour / Cancer can cause this symptom. Patients usually have headache and vomiting. The symptoms usually start gradually over a few weeks.
Degenerative Brain Disorder
Degenerative brain disorder refers to a medical condition in which the brain cells die much faster than the normal rate. An example is Spinocerebellar Ataxia, which sometimes can be inherited. Among the other patients who do not have family history of similar disorder, the cause of the Ataxia is unknown. Patients present with unsteadiness or falls for months to years before the diagnosis.
Degenerative Brain Disorder
Emotional disorders such as Anxiety or Depression can cause unsteadiness or clumsiness. In these cases, there are other suggestive symptoms of Anxiety or Depression such as low mood, insomnia, irritability and temper tantrums.
What will the Neurologist do for patients with Ataxia?
The Neurologist will perform physical examination, blood tests and MRI scan of the brain. Some patients may need to be referred to the psychiatrist.
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