The Command Center of Our Body: Let's Learn About the Nervous System in Simple Terms

Without you even thinking about it, your heart beats, you breathe. You quickly pull your hand away when you touch something hot. You lift your leg when you get pricked by a needle. Have you ever wondered how all this happens? Behind all this is the amazing, high-speed communication network in our body. We call this the nervous system . So, today we're going to talk about this 'messaging center' in our body.

Simply put, what is this nervous system?

The nervous system is your body's main communication system. It's like a telephone exchange in a large office. It sends messages from your brain to every part of your body, and it carries messages back to your brain from parts of your body. It's what helps you respond to things going on around you and inside your body.

There are three main parts to this system: the brain, the spinal cord , and the nerves . Think of the brain as a supercomputer. The spinal cord is the main cable coming from that computer. Nerves are like little wires that branch off from that main cable throughout the body.

To send these messages, the nervous system uses billions of tiny cells called neurons . These messages are sent as electrical and chemical signals. That is, they are the signals that tell your body to do something.

How does this system work?

Imagine you're walking barefoot in the yard and suddenly a thorn pricks you. You don't even have a second to scream "Ouch!" and lift your leg, right? This is what happens:

The nerves in your foot send the message, "It hurts here!" through neurons at high speed to your spinal cord and then to your brain. Some messages travel at speeds of over 200 miles per hour!

These neurons are not connected directly to each other. The small gap between two neurons is called a synapse. The message jumps across this gap using special chemicals called neurotransmitters . You may have heard of dopamine and serotonin.Serotonin ) is a type of neurotransmitter.

So, once the brain receives the message from the foot that "it hurts," the brain responds by sending a new message back to the leg muscles saying, "Get your leg out of the way!" All of this happens in the blink of an eye. Isn't it amazing?

What are the main parts of the nervous system?

As we mentioned before, there are several main parts of the nervous system. Each one has a different function. Let's take a look at what they are.

There are other divisions of the peripheral nervous system.

The peripheral nervous system is further divided into two main parts:

1. Autonomic Nervous System : This part controls things that you cannot control consciously . For example, things like heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion. This is also divided into two parts.

• Sympathetic system:This prepares you for an emergency. It's called the "fight-or-flight" response. This is what makes your heart beat faster and your breathing faster when you chase a dog.
• Parasympathetic: This is what calms the body down. It means "rest and digest." This part is active when you are at rest and digesting food.

2. Somatic Nervous System: This part controls things that you can control with your mind . For example, moving your arms and legs, walking, etc. It also carries sensations like touch, taste, smell, and sound to the brain.

What are the diseases that affect the nervous system?

Although our nervous system is well protected, various diseases can sometimes occur.

• Infections: Diseases caused by germs such as viruses and bacteria. Examples: Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord), Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
• Injuries: Car accidents, sports injuries, falls, etc. can damage the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. Also, conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome can cause pain and numbness in the hand by compressing a nerve in the wrist.
• Disorders of the nervous system: Some diseases impair the functioning of the nervous system. Examples: Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease.
• Blood Vessel Issues: Problems with the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain can cause damage to the nervous system. Examples: Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).

What are the symptoms of a nervous system problem?

The symptoms of a nervous system problem depend on what type of nerve is damaged.

Please remember: These symptoms can also be caused by other illnesses. So if you have these symptoms, it is very important to see a doctor to find out exactly what is causing them.

How do we keep our nervous system healthy?

We can maintain the health of our nervous system by making small changes to our lifestyle.

The importance of nutrition

The food you eat directly affects the long-term health of your brain and nervous system. It's especially important to eat foods that contain these nutrients:

• Omega-3 fatty acids: These are abundant in oily fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna), walnuts, chia seeds, and flax seeds.
• Vitamin B: Can be obtained from things like chicken, fish, eggs, yogurt, potatoes, peas, and green vegetables.
• Antioxidants: These can be obtained from colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and spices.

It is best to stay away from processed foods and processed foods with added artificial ingredients as much as possible and adopt a natural diet.

Stress management

Constant stress is not good for your nervous system. It keeps your "fight-or-flight" system constantly engaged, causing your body to become fatigued.

Try these things to reduce stress:

• Do deep breathing exercises.
• Splash some cold water on your face.
• Engage in exercises such as walking and swimming.
• Do things like meditation and yoga.
• Get 7-9 hours of good sleep a day.

If these things don't help, talk to a doctor. They may be able to refer you to medication or other treatments.