Brain and nerves

Symptoms (33)

Acute Pain — Dolor agudo

Acute pain is pain that comes on suddenly and has a clear cause, such as an injury, surgery, or infection.

Back Pain — Dolor de espalda

Back pain is discomfort anywhere along the spine or the muscles of the back, from the neck down to the tailbone.

Chronic Pain — Dolor crónico

Chronic pain is pain that persists or recurs for three months or longer, beyond the expected period of tissue healing.

Cluster Headache — Cefalea en racimos

Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches that occur in groups or cycles, often at the same time each day, usually for weeks or months.

Confusion — Confusión mental

Confusion is a state of mental cloudiness where thinking, understanding, or communicating clearly becomes difficult.

Coordination Problems — Problemas de coordinación

Coordination problems (ataxia) refer to difficulty controlling the movements of the limbs or body, resulting in clumsiness, stumbling, or an unsteady gait.

Delirium — Delirio

Delirium is a sudden, serious change in mental state marked by confusion, disorientation, impaired attention, and sometimes hallucinations.

Dizziness — Mareo

A feeling of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or being off-balance without a sense that the room is spinning.

Facial Pain — Dolor facial

Facial pain is discomfort or aching anywhere on the face, including the cheeks, jaw, forehead, or around the eyes.

Fainting — Desmayo

Fainting (syncope) is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary drop in blood flow to the brain.

Hallucinations — Alucinaciones

Hallucinations are sensory experiences that feel real but are created by the mind rather than external reality.

Headache — Dolor de cabeza

A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck.

Insomnia — Insomnio

Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early and being unable to return to sleep.

Lethargy — Letargo

Lethargy is a state of extreme tiredness, drowsiness, and reduced alertness that goes beyond normal fatigue.

Loss of Consciousness — Pérdida del conocimiento

Loss of consciousness means becoming unresponsive and unaware of your surroundings, either briefly (fainting) or for a longer period.

Memory Loss — Pérdida de memoria

Memory loss refers to difficulty recalling recent or past events, learning new information, or recognizing familiar people and places.

Migraine — Migraña

A migraine is a type of intense, recurring headache usually felt as a throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head, though it can affect both sides.

Mood Changes — Cambios de humor

Mood changes refer to noticeable shifts in emotional state, such as swinging between sadness and happiness, feeling unusually low or high, increased anxiety, or emotional reactions that seem out of proportion to situations.

Muscle Weakness — Debilidad muscular

Muscle weakness is a reduction in the strength of one or more muscles, making it difficult to perform normal movements such as climbing stairs, lifting objects, or rising from a chair.

Neuralgia — Neuralgia

Neuralgia is intense, stabbing, or burning pain along the course of a nerve, caused by nerve irritation or damage.

Neuropathic Pain — Dolor neuropático

Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system itself, rather than by injury to body tissue.

Nociceptive Pain — Dolor nociceptivo

Nociceptive pain is the most common type of pain, caused by actual or potential damage to body tissue—skin, muscles, bones, or organs.

Numbness — Entumecimiento

Numbness is a loss or reduction of sensation in a part of the body, often described as feeling nothing when you touch the skin.

Paralysis — Parálisis

Paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function in one or more parts of the body, making normal movement impossible.

Radiating Pain — Dolor irradiado

Radiating pain is pain that starts in one location and spreads or travels to other parts of the body along a nerve pathway.

Restless Legs — Síndrome de piernas inquietas

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is an irresistible urge to move the legs, usually accompanied by uncomfortable crawling, tingling, or burning sensations deep inside the limbs.

Sciatica — Ciática

Sciatica is pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the buttocks and down each leg.

Seizure — Convulsión

A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that may cause uncontrolled shaking, stiffening, confusion, loss of consciousness, or staring spells.

Sharp Pain — Dolor agudo

Sharp pain is an intense, piercing, or stabbing type of pain that typically comes on suddenly and is felt at a specific point.

Tension Headache — Cefalea tensional

A tension headache is the most common type of headache.

Tingling — Hormigueo

Tingling is an abnormal prickling, pins-and-needles, or buzzing sensation in the skin, often without complete numbness.

Tremor — Temblor

A tremor is an involuntary, rhythmic shaking of a body part, most often the hands.

Vertigo — Vértigo

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness where you feel as if you or the room is spinning or tilting, even while still.

Conditions (18)

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) — TDAH (trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad)

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) — ELA (Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks motor neurons controlling voluntary muscle movement.

Alzheimer's Disease — Enfermedad de Alzheimer

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out simple tasks.

Bell's Palsy — Parálisis de Bell

Bell's palsy is a sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face caused by inflammation or dysfunction of the facial nerve.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome — Síndrome del Túnel Carpiano

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, becomes compressed.

Cerebral Palsy — Parálisis Cerebral

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent movement and posture disorders caused by damage to the developing brain, usually before or around birth.

Concussion — Conmoción Cerebral

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that temporarily disrupts brain function.

Epilepsy — Epilepsia

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome — Síndrome de Guillain-Barré

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing rapidly progressive muscle weakness that typically starts in the feet and legs and moves upward.

Meningitis — Meningitis

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes, called meninges, surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Migraine Disorder — Trastorno de Migraña

Migraine is a neurological condition causing intense, often one-sided throbbing headaches that can last from hours to days.

Multiple Sclerosis — Esclerosis Múltiple

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system in which the immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath covering nerve fibers, disrupting signals between the brain and body.

Parkinson's Disease — Enfermedad de Parkinson

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, which impairs movement control.

Peripheral Neuropathy — Neuropatía Periférica

Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves—those outside the brain and spinal cord—causing weakness, numbness, tingling, and pain, typically in the hands and feet.

Restless Leg Syndrome — Síndrome de Piernas Inquietas

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition causing an irresistible urge to move the legs, typically accompanied by uncomfortable sensations described as crawling, tingling, aching, or pulling.

Sciatica — Ciática

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg.

Spina Bifida — Espina Bífida

Spina bifida is a birth defect occurring when the neural tube—the structure that becomes the brain and spinal cord—does not close completely during early pregnancy.

Traumatic Brain Injury — Lesión Cerebral Traumática

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from a sudden blow, jolt, or penetrating injury to the head that disrupts normal brain function.

Anatomy (8)

Brainstem — Tallo cerebral

The brainstem is the stalk-like structure at the base of your brain that connects the brain to the spinal cord.

Cerebellum — Cerebelo

The cerebellum is a compact, rounded part of the brain located at the lower back of your head, just above the brainstem.

Facial Nerve — Nervio facial

The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve.

Frontal Lobe — Lóbulo frontal

The frontal lobe is the front portion of your brain, located just behind your forehead.

Meninges — Meninges

The meninges are three protective layers of tissue that wrap around your brain and spinal cord.

Temporal Lobe — Lóbulo temporal

The temporal lobe is located on each side of your brain, roughly behind your temples.

Trigeminal Nerve — Nervio trigémino

The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve and the largest of the twelve cranial nerves.

Vagus Nerve — Nervio vago

The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve and the longest nerve in the body — it travels from the brainstem all the way down to organs in the chest and abdomen, including the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.

Medications (4)

Anti-Anxiety Medication — Medicamento Ansiolítico

Anti-anxiety medications help reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders such as excessive worry, panic attacks, and phobias.

Anticonvulsant — Anticonvulsivo

Anticonvulsants, also called antiepileptic drugs, are medications used to prevent or reduce seizures in people with epilepsy.

Monoclonal Antibody — Anticuerpo Monoclonal

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins designed to mimic the immune system's ability to target specific substances in the body.

Pill — Pastilla

A pill is a general, everyday term for any small solid medication you swallow, including tablets and capsules.

Procedures (4)

CPAP Therapy — Terapia con CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.

Nerve Block — Bloqueo nervioso

A nerve block is a procedure in which anesthetic medication is injected near specific nerves to numb a region of the body, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain.

Speech Therapy — Terapia del habla

Speech therapy, also called speech-language pathology, helps people improve communication skills and swallowing function.

Stroke Rehabilitation — Rehabilitación tras un derrame cerebral

Stroke rehabilitation is a coordinated set of therapies designed to help stroke survivors regain lost abilities and adapt to any lasting impairments.

Tests (4)

EEG (Electroencephalogram) — Electroencefalograma (EEG)

An EEG records the electrical activity of your brain using small metal discs called electrodes attached to your scalp with a sticky paste or a cap.

Iron Studies — Estudios de hierro

Iron studies are a group of blood tests that measure different aspects of how your body handles iron.

Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) — Punción lumbar

A lumbar puncture, commonly called a spinal tap, is a procedure in which a doctor inserts a thin needle between two lower vertebrae to collect a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the liquid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Sleep Study (Polysomnography) — Estudio del Sueño (Polisomnografía)

A sleep study records your body's functions while you sleep to diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, or narcolepsy.

Maternity and children (1)

Febrile Seizure — Convulsión febril

A febrile seizure is a convulsion in a young child triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature (fever), most commonly between ages 6 months and 5 years.

Emergency care (1)

Pain Scale — Escala del dolor

The pain scale is a tool used by hospital staff to understand how much pain you are experiencing.

Other areas of the glossary

• Heart and circulation — Corazón y circulación
• Lungs and breathing — Pulmones y respiración
• Digestive system — Sistema digestivo
• Mental health — Salud mental
• Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo
• Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
• Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
• Hormones, diabetes and metabolism — Hormonas, diabetes y metabolismo
• Skin, hair and nails — Piel, cabello y uñas
• General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos