Parkinsonologist

A Parkinsonologist is a doctor whose job is to diagnose and treat Parkinson's disease at any stage of its development. We suggest you find out who a Parkinsonologist is, what he does, what the doctor's responsibilities include, and when you should contact him.

A Parkinsonologist is a doctor with a narrow specialty - Parkinson's disease. This disease occurs due to damage to the central nervous system and the impact on the brain. Because of this, healthy body movements and the transmission of impulses responsible for movement are disrupted. A Parkinsonologist uses therapeutic and surgical methods of treating the disease. Treatment methods depend on the symptoms and stage of the disease.

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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 associated neurological disorders. The doctor carries out diagnostic measures, prescribes tests and makes a treatment plan (relief of disease symptoms). A 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 a Parkinson specialist are elderly people, i.e. 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 a Parkinson specialist is to identify the disease at an early stage of development and begin treatment before the disease has become pathological.

When should you see a Parkinson specialist?

As a rule, people seek medical help only if symptoms appear that worsen the quality of life and are related to a particular disease. Let's consider when to contact a Parkinson specialist. Tremor, muscle rigidity, postural instability, and hypokinesia are a cause for concern. These are the leading symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

According to modern medical requirements, to diagnose the disease, it is necessary to have such a symptom as hypokinesia, that is, movement disorders (slowing down of movements, decrease in motor activity) and one of the leading symptoms. Let's consider the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which are the reason for seeking medical help.

• Problems with coordination of movements (fingers shaking, restricted motor skills, slow actions, slouching, slow gait and freezing during movement).
• Constipation and urinary incontinence.
• Anxiety, depression without apparent reason, insomnia.
• It is difficult to chew and swallow food, and salivation appears.
• The rate of speech changes significantly (monotony appears) and handwriting (becomes smaller).

In addition to the symptoms described above, many patients complain of difficulty sleeping (difficulty turning in bed). Such sleep problems reduce the quality of night rest and significantly affect daytime wakefulness.

What tests should be taken when visiting a Parkinson specialist?

A Parkinson specialist, like other doctors, makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment not only based on the symptoms of the disease, but also based on the results of tests. Let's consider what tests need to be taken when visiting a Parkinson specialist.

• The main analysis by which a Parkinson specialist diagnoses the disease is a blood test. The diagnosis of the disease is carried out due to the presence of an autoantibody profile in the blood.
• A Parkinson specialist may order an MRI of the brain and an ultrasound examination. This allows one to detect the presence of tumors in the brain that provoke the disease.
• A Parkinson specialist performs a visual examination called positron emission tomography. This examination can determine the main symptom of the disease - low levels of dopamine in the brain. But this method is used extremely rarely, as it is expensive and not all clinics and hospitals have the equipment to conduct this analysis.

In addition, the doctor prescribes a number of tests that will help identify concomitant diseases that may cause the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, today there are no laboratory tests that would help accurately diagnose the disease.

What diagnostic methods does a Parkinson specialist use?

What diagnostic methods does a Parkinson specialist use? First of all, this is a visual examination, studying the patient's symptoms and complaints. This refers to the first stage of diagnosing the disease. At the second stage of diagnosis, the Parkinson specialist must exclude diseases that cause symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. To do this, the doctor prescribes a number of tests (ultrasound, blood test, MRI, etc.).

At the third stage of diagnosis, the doctor must confirm Parkinson's disease. This is possible only if no other diseases with similar symptoms were detected at the second stage of diagnosis. To confirm the disease, the patient must have at least three leading symptoms of the disease (hypokinesia, tremor of the limbs, sleep disorders, etc.). After diagnosing Parkinson's disease, the doctor prescribes treatment that significantly relieves the symptoms of the disease, but does not cure it completely. Since today there are no treatment methods that would completely eliminate Parkinson's disease.

What does a Parkinson specialist do?

What does a Parkinsonologist do? First of all, it is the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The doctor's responsibilities also include the treatment of progressive and chronic diseases of the central nervous system, which are accompanied by symptoms such as movement disorders.

Today, medicine cannot completely cure patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or slow down 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 surgical intervention methods. Risk factors for the development of the disease include genetic predisposition, aging, and exposure to negative environmental factors.

What diseases does a Parkinson specialist treat?

What diseases does a Parkinson specialist treat? First of all, it is Parkinson's disease, as well as diseases of the brain and spinal cord, nervous disorders. Parkinson's disease is an idiopathic disease, that is, the disease is completely independent and does not entail concomitant diseases or genetic disorders. Conventionally, the disease is divided into four groups. A Parkinson specialist must determine the disease group based on certain symptoms and prescribe effective treatment. Let's look at the main groups of Parkinsonism syndrome.

• Idiopathic – occurs in 75% of patients with Parkinson's disease. It has standard symptoms associated with disorders of the nervous system and loss of coordination of movements.
• Genetic – this 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 experiences the same symptoms as Parkinson's disease.
• Neurodegenerative diseases - Parkinson's disease appears against the background of other neurological diseases that provoke its development.

Advice from a Parkinson specialist

The advice of a Parkinson doctor is practical methods and recommendations that help alleviate the course of the disease and the patient's condition. Let's look at the advice of a Parkinson doctor, as well as some facts about the course of the disease.

• Parkinson's disease most often occurs in men. The majority of patients are over sixty years old.
• People with Parkinson's disease need constant support and care. Regular physical therapy is necessary, as this helps alleviate the symptoms of the disease and maintain the patient's physical activity.
• Nutrition for this disease should be complete. The patient should walk and talk as much as possible.
• If the hand tremors are severe, the patient needs to be helped to eat and given as much liquid as possible, as this will prevent constipation.
• A person with Parkinson's should not be rushed or excited, as overexcitement leads to increased tremors in the limbs.
• Regular warm baths help relieve muscle tension and relax a little.
• It is necessary to monitor the patient's stool; if any disorders occur, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
• The patient's movements are under special control. Make sure that the patient walks straight, lifts his legs and steps correctly.

A Parkinsonologist is a doctor whose job is to diagnose and treat Parkinson's disease. This disease affects older people, so the doctor's job is to be not only a qualified professional, but also a psychologist who is ready to support the patient at any time.