Where is Your Head?Dr Biodun Ogungbo, MBBS, FRCS, FRCSEd, MSc

• 

Most people do not even know they have a head on their shoulders, let alone a brain inside that coconut shell. They just walk around flapping their body left and right, oblivious of the engine working silently on top of their shoulders.

They only become aware when the coconut starts to hurt or go bad.

It Is brain awareness week, and we hope to use this opportunity to remind you about your brain. The brain is the computer that controls the whole body and ensures everything is in working order. When the brain fails, death follows soon after. Therefore, preventing brain malfunction, failure and injury is very important. We have only one chance to keep the brain in top form as we currently cannot replace the brain.

Yes, we can replace the heart, give you a new kidney, new liver and even a new penis, but the brain: it is irreplaceable! Diseases such as Alzheimer’s, stroke and even head injury damage the brain and shorten the life of the person. Looking after your brain must be top priority.

So, eat well. Eat fruits and vegetables and fresh fish. Exercise regularly and keep the brain ship shape. Learn new tricks, new ways of doing things and be creative. Draw, do poetry, pottery, and sing. Learn a new language or a new skill, new game or just simply teach your non-dominant hand to do somethings. If you are right-handed, use your left hand and train it to work. This gets the brain excited and both sides of the brain talking better to each other.

Yes, the brain is in two halves. But you know that already! If not, where do we crack this coconut head!

• 

Dr. Biodun Ogungbo is a UK General Medical Council Registered Specialist in Neurosurgery and Nigeria Medical and Dental Council registered Surgeon. He has extensive surgical repertoire in elective and emergency neurosurgery procedures.