6 Causes of Nerve Damage You Shouldn’t Ignore!

Do you experience tingling and numbness of your hands and feet, loss of reflexes, and muscle weakness? Do you have all these signs but can’t understand what the underlying cause of nerve damage could be? Well, these are indications that there is something wrong with your nerves, which could be due to various reasons. 

Your nervous system is a critical interwoven mass of neurons that stand the test of time and are involved in numerous intricate functions in your body. Dysfunction in one or more nerves due to a neurological condition can disrupt the entire network and be a cause of nerve damage. Thus, this article aims to unravel 6 hidden causes of nerve damage you might not have known before, and how you can improve your nerve function. First, here is some basic information about the nerves.

What Do Your Nerves Do?

The nervous system is a complex network of neurons divided into two major parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Nerves are those functional and structural units of the PNS that comprise nerve fibers called axons. Neurons, on the other hand, are cells of the nervous system.

The nerves carry out three main functions: sensory input, integration, and motor output. This means that your nerves receive sensory information through your receptors, interpret it, and pass it on to the central nervous system for an appropriate response. Think of it like when you touch a hot object or surface. This is received by your sensory receptors and then transmitted by the nerves to the sensory neurons, which direct it to the brain for action (which is to remove your hands or get burnt). This process takes place within milliseconds before you even know it!

Hidden Causes of Nerve Damage

Now that we’ve covered the basics about the nerves, the following are some hidden causes of nerve damage:

• Medical conditions: A variety of health conditions can trigger nerve damage. These include diabetes, lupus, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, etc.
• Drugs: Some medications, such as statins and seizure medications, can affect the functioning of your nerves, especially when used for an extended period. This is because statins block the production of cholesterol. Contrary to popular opinion, cholesterol is an essential component of the CNS and PNS. Subsequently, this affects the nerves and can be a cause of nerve damage. 
• Toxic levels of homocysteine: Homocysteine is a protein produced in the body when an amino acid is metabolized. High levels of this protein occur when you are deficient in B vitamins and are a risk factor for coronary artery disease.
• High-carb diet: As surprising as this may seem, refined sugars deplete B vitamins in the body. This is why some diabetics develop nerve damage, which can progress to problems with the digestive system, blood vessels, and heart.
• Toxins: Various toxins can accumulate in the body and cause neurotoxicity, particularly if your body’s natural detoxification is compromised. For instance, people who have liver or kidney problems, affect the vital functions of these organs including detoxification. These toxins can be alcohol or insecticides, which can invade the nervous system, damage, and kill the nerves.
• Infections: Viruses such as herpes simplex virus, West Nile virus, HIV, etc. can target the sensory fibers and cause sharp, lightening-like pain that can be excruciating. Infections caused by these viruses can trigger autoimmune peripheral neuropathy and cause extensive damage.

Tips to Improve Nerve Function and Prevent Nerve Damage

Sometimes, the cause of an unusual nerve sensation cannot be pinpointed in people. This unexplained nerve sensation might still be due to nerve damage that occurred at some point, which you might not even be aware of. Therefore, here are some tips to manage abnormal nerve sensations and improve the functioning of your nerves:

• Addressing underlying health conditions: Identifying and treating the root cause, such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases, etc., is crucial for preventing further nerve damage.
• Pain management techniques: This could be massages, and mild exercise can help manage discomforting nerve sensations.
• Use of nutritional supplements: Avoiding nutritional deficiencies associated with health conditions is another effective strategy to alleviate nerve damage. You can avoid this by supplementing with NATURE’SFIELD B-MAX, which contains all the essential B vitamins in the required quantities.

Addressing underlying causes of nerve damage is critical to improving the overall functioning of your nerves. As an integral part of your body, the nervous system is irreplaceable and needs appropriate care and attention. Lifestyle changes like cessation of smoking, avoiding toxins (like alcohol and drugs), exercising, mindful eating, maintaining a healthy weight, and use of NATURE’SFIELD B-MAX can all support healthier nerves.