A neurologist is a licensed medical care professional that is engaged in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system and some pathologies of the musculoskeletal system that affect the normal functioning of your body. The tasks of a neurologist are the examination of the mental and physical status of the patient, providing all necessary scans and tests to check reflexes, muscle strength, sensitivity, the condition of the peripheral and autonomic nervous system, as well as the vestibular apparatus, assessing the obtained results and the symptoms to correctly identify the nature of an illness or neurological problem and develop the treatment program. Let’s find out which symptoms show that a consultation with a neurologist is needed and cannot be postponed.
Alarming signals it’s time to see a neurologist
Frequent tension-type headaches. A neurologist deals with the problem of headaches that can bother a patient due to numerous pathological processes, lesions of the skull and cervical spine, infections, injuries. Any often troublesome headache requires an immediate doctor’s consultation. It is especially important to get an appointment as soon as possible if the pain is sudden and sharp, gradually builds in intensity, and is not relieved by standard medications.
Dizziness and a sensation of spinning around. When walking, a person can lose balance, experience a lack of coordination, and simply fall. Balance troubles can signalize the problems in brain work, various neurological and cardiovascular disorders.
Ongoing sharp or dull chronic pain that lasts longer than six months. Most people think that fatigue, tiredness, or stress are common sources of constant pain in the back and neck area. But, if the sensation of pain begins to be chronic, then you should immediately see a neurologist.
Spine injuries and their consequences. The damaged spinal cord as a result of some injury makes transmission of nerve impulses difficult or even impossible, preventing the normal functioning of the body. Moreover, the more serious the injury, the more harmful the consequences can challenge the patient, including paralysis and the loss of the ability to move. In this situation, the sooner comprehensive assistance is provided, the more chances for a full recovery.
Insomnia or sleep disturbance. Habitual sleeplessness, narcolepsy (a tendency to fall asleep whenever in a relaxing environment), and apnea (temporary cessation of breathing) are three main sleep issues. The experienced neurologist should help you to determine causes and eliminate them to bring back normal sleep. The reasons for the development of such problems are mostly neurological diseases and traumas.
Numbness in a specific part of the body or tingling. If you notice these sensations in your hands, arms, feet, or any other part of the body, consult a specialist in disorders of nerves and the nervous system, since numbness in one area of the body can be associated with muscle weakness, impaired peripheral nerves or cerebral circulation.
Cognitive impairment and trouble with remembering, learning new things, and concentrating. If during a conversation there are difficulties with speaking, a person experiences memory lapses, clouding of consciousness, alterations in attention, then this may indicate signs of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
Some of the diseases that are within the competence of neurologists are rapidly progressive and irreversible. Their effective therapy is possible only in the early stages. If you seek qualified and proficient medical help, then advanced medical care doctors can deliver timely treatment to stop the progression of the pathological processes and relieve some of the symptoms.
