Neurologist

A neurologist is a specialist associated with neurology, a special branch of medicine whose object of study is diseases of the nervous system (both central and peripheral).

Therefore, the question "Who is a neurologist?" can be answered as follows: this is a doctor who has received a higher medical education and has specialized in the field of neurology. He is called upon to carry out diagnostics, treatment and prevention of various diseases of the brain and spinal cord, as well as the peripheral nervous system, at a high professional level. First of all, such a specialist studies the causes and identifies the mechanisms of development of a particular disease, establishes its symptoms, determines diagnostic methods, and then prescribes optimal methods of treatment for the diagnosed disease. In addition, the competence of a neurologist includes the appointment of effective preventive measures aimed at strengthening the health of the human nervous system.

It should be noted that in our time the concepts of "neurologist" and "neuropathologist" are identical and do not have any differences in meaning. This is one and the same specialist whose work is associated with the detection of pathologies, disorders and the implementation of treatment of all kinds of diseases associated with the activity of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and nerve fibers and plexuses.

When should you see a neurologist?

A neurologist is obliged to help you in the event that the body has disorders of the central or peripheral nervous system.

Many people are interested in the question, "When should I see a neurologist?" That is, what signs should indicate the need to seek help from this specialist? First of all, the following symptoms should be noted:

• periodic fainting and semi-fainting states;
• dizziness, headaches and general weakness;
• convulsions and tics;
• flaccidity of limbs;
• numbness of certain parts of the body;
• noise in the head and ears;
• insomnia, sleep disorders;
• memory and concentration disorders;
• deterioration of vision, hearing and smell;
• neurotic disorders.

A head injury or any traumatic brain injury is also a reason to visit a neurologist, since their consequences usually appear after a period of time and can lead to serious complications.

The cause for concern may be attacks of nausea and vomiting not related to food intake, as well as changes in speech and voice, urination disorders, as well as movements in the legs and arms, fears and obsessive states. If you observe one of the listed symptoms, you should contact a neurologist as soon as possible to avoid the dangers associated with the development of serious diseases, such as, for example, a brain tumor, which requires immediate transportation of the patient to a hospital for further examination and possible surgical intervention.

What tests should you take when visiting a neurologist?

A neurologist will help diagnose a disease of the nervous system and prescribe the most optimal methods of treatment. During an appointment, the doctor usually conducts a neurological examination of the patient, and also asks about complaints, symptoms, duration and features of the disease, finds out about the presence of concomitant diseases, inquires about the patient's lifestyle and hereditary predispositions.

What tests should be taken when visiting a neurologist? Basically, the doctor prescribes all the necessary tests and examinations after examining the patient. In addition to a general blood test, which indicates the state of the body as a whole, the patient may need to undergo a number of additional examinations. Everything depends on what symptoms are observed in the development of the disease. The hereditary factor is also important, and tests may be needed to establish the patient's predisposition to certain neurological diseases.

During the examination, the neurologist will check the patient's reflexes and determine the therapeutic measures in order to prescribe additional tests and analyses. For example, in addition to a general blood test, the patient may need an ultrasound Doppler of the neck and head, or an electroencephalogram (EEG), as well as myography (electroneuromyography) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Often, to identify the causes of the disease, the patient needs additional studies in the form of otoacoustic emission, hearing tests, or a visual field examination. If necessary, the doctor may also prescribe an X-ray of the spinal column.

What diagnostic methods does a neurologist use?

A neurologist specializes in identifying neurological diseases and prescribing optimal treatments to relieve symptoms that prevent a patient from living a full, healthy life.

What diagnostic methods does a neurologist use? Ultrasound examinations are widely used in modern medicine to detect the slightest disturbances in the functioning of human internal organs. In addition to ultrasound, a doctor can send a patient for computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord, electroencephalography, electroneuromyography, and radiography. Among other methods for diagnosing diseases of the nervous system, laboratory methods can be distinguished (e.g., lumbar puncture). One of the main ways to obtain information to establish a diagnosis of a disease is to question the patient.

Among the methods of treating neurological diseases, we can distinguish drug-based, drug-free, physical and surgical methods. Accordingly, with drug-based treatment, a neurologist prescribes the necessary medications to the patient. Drug-free treatment includes diet, herbal medicine, acupuncture, as well as alternative medicine methods, reflexology and manual therapy, therapeutic massage. The physical method of treating neurological diseases comes down to the use of various sets of exercises and physiotherapeutic procedures: magnetic therapy, laser therapy, diadynamic therapy, myostimulation, electrophoresis. With the progression of the disease, despite the use of other treatments, the patient needs surgical intervention. Neurosurgeons perform various operations on both the brain and spinal cord, as well as on nerve fibers.

What does a neurologist do?

A neurologist must have high medical knowledge in the field of neurology in order to correctly diagnose a disease of the nervous system and prescribe the most effective treatment for the patient's speedy recovery.

What does a neurologist do specifically? Their job is to diagnose a disease directly related to malfunctions of the central and peripheral nervous systems of a person and to treat it. This type of disease includes various abnormalities in the functioning of the brain and spinal cord, as well as nerve plexuses. These are neuritis, neuralgia, encephalitis, epilepsy, strokes, tumors and all kinds of circulatory disorders in the brain, as well as other diseases. Most often, the development of the disease is preceded by changes in the patient's mental state and behavior. In such cases, other specialists should be involved in the medical examination - a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, to establish an accurate diagnosis of the disease. It should be noted that a neurologist deals exclusively with the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of diseases of the nervous system that are not associated with disorders or changes in the human psyche.

Patients who suffer from back pain, neck pain, thoracic spine pain, headaches, dizziness attacks, as well as those who have symptoms of VSD, depression, obsessive states, neuroses, perinatal encephalopathy, polyneuropathy, etc. also turn to a neurologist. Patients of a neurologist also include those who have attention deficit syndrome, various damage to peripheral nerves, suffer from joint diseases, tics, and states of increased anxiety.

During the appointment, the doctor has the opportunity to assess the functional state of the patient's nervous system, thereby identifying any disturbances in the electrical activity of different parts of the body's nervous system. For example, the electroencephalography method helps to identify and record seizures, and the electromyography method is used to assess the condition of the patient's muscles.

Neurological examination data are usually supplemented by laboratory blood test results to determine the patient's overall health.

The most common symptom that is a reason for visiting a neurologist is headache. It has been established that 75% of the entire population of our planet periodically suffers from headaches of various etiologies. Often people do not even try to understand the true causes of its occurrence and take analgesics without control. The chronic nature of headaches is most often caused by stress, depression, various hormonal disorders, vascular changes in the body, atherosclerosis, diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In total, about 50 diseases can be identified associated with the main, and sometimes the only symptom - headache. Therefore, it is so important to establish the causes of its occurrence in time by contacting an experienced neurologist.

What diseases does a neurologist treat?

A neurologist deals with various diseases of the nervous system, the result of which today most often are chronic illnesses, deterioration of the general ecological situation in the world, stressful situations, a sedentary lifestyle of a person and other negative factors. With age, the risk of developing neurological diseases usually increases, but in recent decades there has been a tendency for them to "rejuvenate". First of all, this is due to the lifestyle of modern people, which leads to a general deterioration in the body, a decrease in immunity, changes in the functioning of internal systems and organs of a person.

What diseases does a neurologist treat? Often, this medical specialist is contacted with osteochondrosis, symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia, negative consequences of craniocerebral injuries, herniated discs, complaints of headaches and frequent migraines, dizziness, as well as insomnia, concentration and sleep disorders. Among the patients of a neurologist, you can find people with the so-called "chronic fatigue syndrome", back pain, neuritis, suffering from memory and sleep disorders, "noises" in the ears and head, pinched sciatic nerves, hypertensive encephalopathy.

A neurologist is required to diagnose and treat many neurological diseases, such as neuralgia, radiculitis, lumbago, sciatica, Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular insufficiency (chronic cerebral circulatory failure), stroke, brain tumors, as well as encephalitis and polyneuropathy, Parkinson's disease.

A very relevant and widespread problem of neuropathological nature in our time is a failure in the functioning of the human autonomic nervous system. Various epidemiological studies conducted in the conditions of a modern city show that today autonomic disorders occur in 65% of the population of our country. Among the main symptoms of VSD, the following can be noted: chronic fatigue and muscle weakness, headache, hypotension or instability of blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, anxiety, irritability, dizziness. Patients with vegetative-vascular disorders also experience chest pain, pre-fainting conditions and fainting, emotional instability, impaired concentration, noise in the head and ears, hyperhidrosis, hyperventilation disorders, panic attacks.

It should be noted that diseases of the nervous system are very diverse in nature. They are based on disturbances in the activity and interconnection of neurons, as well as various inflammatory processes that occur in the brain, spinal cord and nerve fibers.

Neurological diseases are often accompanied by symptoms that signal mental disorders in humans. In this case, a psychotherapist's intervention is required in the examination and treatment of the patient.

Advice from a neurologist

A neurologist understands that treatment of neurological diseases requires, first of all, a comprehensive approach and very often takes a long time for the patient. Therefore, specialists in this field of medicine advise each person to remember that any disease of the nervous system is easier to cure at the initial stage. That is why it is so important not to postpone a visit to the doctor upon detection of the slightest symptoms indicating a malfunction in the body, in particular the nervous system.

What are the main tips of a neurologist? First of all, they concern following the rules of a healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits. Moderate physical exercise, physical activity, regular sports, daily walks in the fresh air contribute not only to the normal functioning of nerves and blood vessels, but also to maintaining health in general.

The most important factor for a strong nervous system is proper, balanced nutrition. Each person's diet should contain many useful microelements, vitamins, omega acids. To do this, you need to include fruits and vegetables, eggs, nuts, vegetable oils and fatty fish in your daily diet. Eliminate unhealthy foods, give preference to natural products that will saturate the body and bring it benefits.

The reason for the emergence and development of neurological diseases can be stress, difficulties in mutual understanding in family life, problems at work, etc. At first, the manifestation of neurosis may be barely noticeable, but gradually it will begin to disrupt the usual course of a person's life and lead to a neurologist. Do not let this process take its course and self-medicate, as this will waste a lot of time. To successfully get rid of the disease, you need to contact an experienced neurologist as soon as possible, who will prescribe timely treatment. Modern diagnostic methods allow you to identify the disease at an early stage, so timely treatment will give positive results in the shortest possible time.

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