Parkinsonologist
Parkinsonologist is a doctor whose job is to diagnose and treat Parkinson's disease at any stage of its development. We suggest you to find out who is a parkinsonologist, what he does, what is the doctor's responsibility, and when to contact him.
Parkinsonologist is a doctor with a narrow specialty - Parkinson's disease. This disease occurs on the basis of lesions of the central nervous system and effects on the brain. Because of this, there are violations of healthy body movements and the transfer of impulses responsible for movement. Parkinsonologist uses therapeutic and surgical methods of treating the disease. The methods of treatment depend on the symptomatology and the stage of the development of the disease.
Who is a Parkinsonologist?
Who is a Parkinsonologist? This is a doctor whose activities are directly related to the treatment of Parkinson's disease, as well as related neurological disorders. The doctor conducts diagnostic activities, prescribes tests and makes a plan for treatment (relief of the symptoms of the disease). Parkinsonologist is a competent specialist who recognizes and treats degenerative diseases of the central nervous system and movement disorders caused by neurological problems.
The main group of patients of the parkinsonologist are elderly people, that is, the older age group. The disease occurs due to the destruction and death of neurons in certain parts of the central nervous system. The task of the parkinsonologist to identify the disease at an early stage of development and begin treatment until the disease has not taken a pathological character.
When should I contact a Parkinsonologist?
As a rule, they seek medical help only if there are symptoms that worsen the quality of life and are related to that or other disease. Let's look at when to apply to a parkinsonologist. The cause for concern is tremor, muscle rigidity, postural instability and hypokinesia. These are the leading symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
According to modern medical requirements, the diagnosis of the disease requires the presence of a symptom such as hypokinesia, that is, motor disorders (slowing down the movement, lowering the motor activity) and one of the leading symptoms. Let's look at the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which are the reason for seeking medical help.
- Problems with coordination of movements (trembling of fingers, constrained motor skills, slowing down of action, stoop, slow gait and congealing during movement).
- Constipation and involuntary urination.
- Anxiety, depression for no apparent reason, insomnia.
- It is difficult to chew and swallow food, salivation appears.
- The rate of speech changes significantly (monotony appears) and handwriting (becoming smaller).
In addition to the above symptoms, many patients complain of difficulty during sleep (hard to turn in bed). Such problems with sleep reduce the quality of night rest and significantly affect the daily wakefulness.
What tests should I take when I contact a Parkinsonologist?
The Parkinsonologist, like other doctors, diagnoses and prescribes treatment not only for the symptoms of the disease, but also for the results of the tests. Let's look at what tests you need to take when you turn to a parkinsonologist.
- The main analysis by which the parkinsonologist diagnoses the disease is a blood test. Diagnosis of the disease is due to the presence of the profile of autoantibodies in the blood.
- A Parkinsonologist can prescribe an MRI of the brain and an ultrasound. This allows us to identify the presence of tumors in the brain, which provoke the disease.
- Parkinsonologist conducts a visual examination, which is called positron emission tomography. With this survey, you can determine the main sign of the disease - a low level of dopamine in the brain. But this method is used extremely rarely, since it has a high cost and far from all clinics and hospitals have equipment for carrying out this analysis.
In addition, the doctor prescribes a series of tests that will help identify co-morbid diseases that are possible and cause symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, to date there are no laboratory tests that would help to accurately diagnose the disease.
What diagnostic methods does the parkinsonologist use?
What methods of diagnosis is used by the parkinsonologist - in the first place it is a visual examination, study of the patient's symptoms and complaints. This refers to the first stage of diagnosing the disease. At the second stage of the diagnosis, the parkinsonologist should rule out the diseases that cause symptoms similar to Parkinson's. For this, the doctor appoints a series of tests (ultrasound, blood test, MRI, and others).
At the third stage of the diagnosis, the doctor must confirm Parkinson's disease. This is possible only if other diseases with similar symptoms were not detected at the second stage of the diagnosis. To confirm the disease, the patient must have at least three leading symptoms of the disease (hypokinesia, limb tremor, sleep disturbances and others). After diagnosing Parkinson's disease, the doctor prescribes a treatment that significantly alleviates the symptoms of the disease, but does not heal it completely. Since to date there are no treatments that would completely eliminate Parkinson's disease.
What does the parkinsonologist do?
What does the parkinsonologist do, in the first place, this treatment of Parkinson's disease. Also, the doctor's duties include treatment of progressive and chronic diseases of the central nervous system, which are accompanied by symptoms such as movement disorders.
To date, medicine can not completely cure patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or slow the progression of the disease. But there are a number of methods that make it possible to improve the patient's quality of life. Such methods include conservative treatment and methods of surgical intervention. Risk factors for the emergence of the disease is considered genetic predisposition, aging and the impact of negative environmental factors.
What kind of diseases does Parkinsonologist treat?
What kind of disease treats a parkinsonologist - first of all it is Parkinson's disease, as well as diseases of the brain and spinal cord, nervous disorders. Parkinson's disease refers to idiopathic diseases, that is, the disease is completely independent and does not entail co-morbid diseases or genetic disorders. Conditionally, the disease is divided into four groups. The Parkinsonologist should identify the disease group for certain symptoms and prescribe an effective treatment. Let's look at the main groups of Parkinson's syndrome.
- Idiopathic - occurs in 75% of patients with Parkinson's disease. Has standard symptoms, which are associated with disorders of the nervous system and loss of coordination of movements.
- Genetic is a hereditary form of the disease.
- Symptomatic - appears due to the effects of medications or a number of diseases (tumors, inflammatory and infectious diseases). The patient has the same symptoms as Parkinson's.
- Neurodegenerative diseases - Parkinson's disease manifests itself against the background of other neurological diseases that provoke its development.
Tips for a Parkinsonologist
Advices of a parkinsonologist are practical methods and recommendations that help to ease the course of the disease and the patient's condition. Let's look at the advice of a parkinsonologist, as well as some facts about the course of the disease.
- Most often, Parkinson's disease occurs in men. The age of the majority of patients is more than sixty years.
- People with Parkinson's disease should be given constant support and care. It is necessary to conduct regular exercise therapy, as this makes it possible to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and maintain the physical activity of the patient.
- Nutrition for this disease should be full. The patient should walk and talk as much as possible.
- With a strong tremor of hands, the patient should be helped to take food and give as much fluid as possible, as this will relieve the appearance of constipation.
- A person with Parkinson should not be rushed and agitated, as overexcitation leads to an increase in tremor of the extremities.
- Regular warm baths help to relieve muscle tension and relax a little.
- It is necessary to monitor the patient's chair, if any disorders appear, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
- Under the special control of the patient's movements. Watch for the patient to walk smoothly, raise his legs and walk right.
Parkinsonologist is a doctor whose job is to diagnose and treat Parkinson's disease. From this disease elderly people suffer, therefore the doctor's task is to be not only a qualified professional, but also a psychologist who is ready to support the patient at any moment.
Medical expert editor
Portnov Alexey Alexandrovich
Education: Kiev National Medical University. A.A. Bogomolets, Specialty - "General Medicine"
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