Mental health affects your daily-life relationships as well as physical health. Your behavioral, cognitive and emotional wellbeing are all comprised of your mental health. When it comes to the treatment of mental disorders, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is effective where other treatment options haven’t availed. TMS in Rancho Cucamonga, CA is committed in offering you satisfactory improvement to your mental health.

How Does TMS Work?

TMS is a noninvasive treatment procedure which uses magnetic fields in stimulating nerve cells in the brain. Symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses improve or go away completely through brain stimulation.

An electric pulse stimulator, or generator, is connected to an electromagnetic coil which is in turn connected to your scalp. Magnetic pulse is then delivered painlessly through the coil to stimulate your brain nerve cells.

The stimulation activates the region of your brain that is involved in depression and mood control. TMS does not require electrode implantation or surgery. The level of stimulation can be adjusted to regulate the intensity and frequency of the magnetic pulse.

What You Should Expect During TMS Treatment

TMS is usually done in a clinic or a doctor’s office. Several treatment sessions are required in order for the procedure to be effective. In fact, TMS is often referred to as repetitive TMS or rTMS since the procedure is characterized by repetition.

The treatment sessions are conducted daily, five times each week for up to five or six weeks. Your first appointment will normally last for about 60 minutes. Your doctor will first need to identify the best place on your scalp to place the magnets before the treatment begins.

Mapping will be carried out on your head by switching the electromagnetic coil on and off to produce stimulating pulses. The result will be a clicking or tapping sound that lasts for a few seconds. The magnetic dose will be increased accordingly until your fingers twitch.

The twitching of your fingers is used as a reference point by your doctor to determine the right dose for you. The amount of stimulation can, however, be changed during the course of treatment depending on your side effects and symptoms.

What Are The Side Effects of TMS?

TMS is aimed at improving your mental condition and not making the situation worse. The vast majority of patients who get treated experience no side effects or very mild ones if any. If you experience a side effect, it will probably be mild discomfort at the treatment facility.

Other side effects may include mild headaches and tingling sensations in the face, jaw or scalp. Most patients who experience these side effects find that they dissipate within one to two weeks. The side effects are rarely severe enough to discontinue the treatment sessions.

TMS is non-systemic, which means that the treatment does not affect the whole body. As such, the side effects are contained and managed within the head and are not widespread throughout the body.

You may also be wondering whether prolonged exposure to TMS treatment can have negative effects down the road. TMS is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there are no adverse effects associated with long-term TMS treatment.