Category Archives: Neurology

A neurologist specializes in caring for people with diseases and conditions of the brain and nervous system, including the spinal cord, nerves, muscles, and related blood vessels. Neurologists diagnose and treat many diseases, including stroke, Alzheimers disease, headaches,seizures, and brain and spinal cord injuries. Neurologists are also experts in preventing neurological disease and in reducing neurological disability.

A neurologist typically:

Evaluates a patients medical history and educates the patient about brain and nervous system health and disease prevention

Performs physical exams that include evaluating blood pressure, vital signs, and the health of the brain and nervous system

Orders and interprets laboratory and imaging tests and prescribes medications

Diagnoses and treats acute and chronic diseases and conditions that affect the brain and nervous system including multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, andmeningitis

Screens, treats and monitors conditions that increase the risk of serious brain and nervous system conditions, such as ahead injurythat can lead to long-term memory loss and headaches

Performs certain invasive procedures such as nervous system biopsies

Provides direct care for brain and nervous system conditions in the office and in the hospital

Works closely with your primary care doctor and other specialists and members of your healthcare team to provide optimal care

Neurologists may also be known by the following names: brain doctor, brain specialist, and nerve doctor.

There are 108 specialists practicing Neurology in Pompano Beach, FL with an overall average rating of 3.7 stars. There are 41 hospitals near Pompano Beach, FL with affiliated Neurology specialists, including Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital and Broward Health North.

Read more from the original source:
Neurologists Near Me in Pompano Beach, FL | Healthgrades

OverviewWhat is a neurologist?

A neurologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses, treats and manages disorders of the brain and nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves). A neurologist knows the anatomy, function and conditions that affect your nerves and nervous system. Your nervous system is your bodys command center. It controls everything you think, feel and do from moving your arm to the beating of your heart.

A pediatric neurologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses, treats and manages disorders of the brain and nervous system in children from newborn to adolescent. Many of the conditions they treat are the same as those seen in adults, in addition to inherited and developmental conditions.

A neurosurgeon is a medical doctor who performs surgery on the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

Some of the most common neurologic disorders a neurologist may treat include:

Your neurologist will ask about your medical history, family history, medication history and any current symptoms. Theyll also conduct a neurologic examination, including tests of your:

Your neurologist may also order blood, urine or other fluid tests in order to help understand condition severity or check on medication levels. Genetic testing may be ordered to identify inherited disorders. Imaging studies of your nervous system might also be ordered to aid in diagnosis.

Neurologists treat people with medications, physical therapy or other approaches.

Common neurologic tests include:

Some of the more common symptoms for which you may want to see a neurologist (or be referred to one) include:

To get the most out of your neurologist visit, its helpful to be prepared. Ways to prepare include:

To become a neurologist, doctors must complete:

Some neurology subspecialty fields include:

A note from Cleveland Clinic

A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diseases and conditions affecting your brain, spinal cord and nerves. Your neurologist will examine you, order tests, make a diagnosis, treat your condition with medication or physical therapy or refer you to and work together with other specialists, such as a neurosurgeon or neuro-oncologist, if appropriate. Come prepared with your notes, share your health information and never hesitate to ask questions. Your neurologist is here to help diagnose your condition, treat or manage it as best as possible and support you along the way.

See the rest here:
What Is a Neurologist? What They Do & When to See One - Cleveland Clinic

Cancer Patient Develops A Rare Neurological Condition That Replaced His Accent With Irish-sounding Voice  Revyuh

View original post here:
Cancer Patient Develops A Rare Neurological Condition That Replaced His Accent With Irish-sounding Voice - Revyuh

A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system. The nervous system is made of two parts: the central and peripheral nervous system. It includes the brain and spinal cord.

Illnesses, disorders, and injuries that involve the nervous system often require a neurologists management and treatment.

Before they can practice, neurologists must:

Neurologists manage and treat neurological conditions, or problems with the nervous system. Symptoms that commonly require a neurologist include:

People who are having problems with their senses, such as touch, vision, or smell, may also need to see a neurologist. Problems with senses are sometimes caused by nervous system disorders.

Neurologists also see patients with:

Because the nervous system is complex, a neurologist may specialize in a specific area. Theyll do a fellowship in that area after residency training. Subspecialties have evolved to narrow a doctors focus.

There are many subspecialties. Some examples include:

During your first appointment with a neurologist, theyll likely perform a physical exam and a neurological exam. A neurological exam will test muscle strength, reflexes, and coordination.

Since different disorders can have similar symptoms, your neurologist may need more testing to make a diagnosis.

Neurologists may recommend a variety of procedures to help diagnose or treat a condition. These procedures may include:

Your neurologist may use a lumbar puncture to test your spinal fluid. They may recommend the procedure if they believe your symptoms are caused by a problem in your nervous system that can be detected in your spinal fluid.

The procedure involves inserting a needle into the spine after numbing it and taking a sample of spinal fluid.

This procedure can help your neurologist diagnose myasthenia gravis. In this test, your doctor injects you with a medicine called Tensilon. Then they observe how it affects your muscle movements.

An EMG measures electrical activity between your brain or spinal cord to a peripheral nerve. This nerve is found in your arms and legs, and is responsible for muscle control during times of movement and rest.

EMGs can help your neurologist diagnose spinal cord disease as well as general muscle or nerve dysfunction.

During this test, your neurologist-technician inserts small electrodes into your muscles to help measure activity during periods of movement and rest. Such activity is recorded by a machine attached to the electrodes with a series of wires, which may be somewhat uncomfortable.

Oftentimes, a neurologist will order a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) study in conjunction with an EMG. While an EMG measures muscle activity, an NCV assesses the ability of your nerves to send the necessary signals that control these muscles. If your neurologist recommends both tests, youll likely do the EMG first.

During an NCV test, electrodes are taped over the same muscles that you had EMG electrodes in previously. Two sets of electrodes are used here one sends small pulses in an effort to stimulate your nerves, while the other set measures the results.

In all, the average EMG/NCV combination test may take about an hour or longer to complete. Youll want to avoid any stimulants, such as caffeine and nicotine, several hours before your test, or else these substances may alter your results.

Your neurologist may also ask that you dont take any blood-thinning medications or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 24 hours ahead of the EMG.

With electrodes applied to your scalp, an EEG measures electrical activity in the brain. Its used to help diagnose conditions of the brain, including inflammation, tumors, and injuries, as well as seizures and psychiatric disorders.

Unlike an EMG, an EEG doesnt usually cause any discomfort. Before the test, a technician places electrodes around the scalp that look like small cups. As small charges in the brain are measured through the electrodes, the technician will create changes in the environment to measure brain signals, such as different lighting or noises.

Like an EMG, youll need to avoid stimulants the day prior to the test. You can also expect the EEG to take an hour. Sometimes the test is done while youre sleeping.

Neurologists may use other types of tests, as well. Although they may not perform the test, they may order it, review it, and interpret the results.

To make a diagnosis, a neurologist may use imaging tests such as:

Other diagnostic procedures include sleep studies and angiography. Angiography determines blockages in the blood vessels going to the brain.

Your neurologist may help you manage your symptoms and neurological disorder alone, or with your primary care physician and other specialists. You can book an appointment with a neurologist in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.

Read more from the original source:
Neurologist: Definition, Treatments, Areas, and More - Healthline

What is neurology?

Neurology is the branch of medicine that is concerned with the study and treatment of disorders of the nervous system.

Thehealthcare providerwho specializes in neurology is called a neurologist. After completing medical school, healthcare providers specializing in adult neurology complete 1 year of residency in internal medicine and 3 years of neurology residency.

Neurologists treat disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, including, but not limited to, the following:

Muscle disorders and pain

Headache

Epilepsy

Neuritis and neuropathy

Brain and spinal cord tumors

Multiple sclerosis

Parkinson disease

Stroke

Myasthenia gravis

Muscular dystrophy

Alzheimer disease and other forms of memory problems

As a specialist, the neurologist sees patients with a wide range of problems and may act as a patient's principal or consulting healthcare provider, while the family healthcare provider, or primary care provider, is generally in charge of a patient's total health care.

Read this article:
Neurology | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Neurologists are medical professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the nervous system.

A general practice doctor might make a referral to a neurologist if they believe that an individual shows signs of a neurological problem.

Neurological issues encompass a broad range of conditions, including Alzheimers disease, diabetic neuropathy, headaches, and nerve damage.

This article discusses the role of a neurologist, including the types of conditions they treat, the procedures they perform, and when a person might visit this specialist.

A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating diseases that affect the nervous system.

The nervous system has two parts:

Due to the complex nature of the nervous system, many neurologists focus on treating certain populations of people or people with specific neurological diseases.

After completing 4 years of medical school to become a physician, neurologists must complete a 4-year residency that consists of 1 year of general internal medicine or pediatrics training, followed by 3 years of neurology training. Some neurologists complete further subspecialty training, which is usually 13 years.

Examples of subspecialties within the field of neurology include:

Neurologists treat neurological conditions, which are problems that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. These conditions include:

Sometimes neurologists evaluate people in the hospital who have had surgery or a medical problem if they have a new problem, such as a seizure or decreased alertness.

These neurological evaluations may help determine outlook or the likelihood of improving from a severe illness.

Neurologists can diagnose a range of conditions affecting the nervous system, such as:

Neurologists perform a range of different tests and procedures to diagnose and treat neurological conditions.

Some of these procedures include:

A neurologist can use a lumbar puncture to collect a sample of spinal fluid. They may use this procedure to help diagnose the following conditions:

Neurologists can also use a lumbar puncture to treat conditions that affect the spinal cord. They can inject anesthetics, antibiotics, or cancer treatments using a lumbar puncture needle.

A neurologist can use electromyography (EMG) to assess how well a persons muscles respond to electrical stimulation from motor neurons, which are nerves that control muscle movement.

Usually, a neurologist will also perform a nerve conduction study (NCV) to measure nerve activity by assessing someones response to superficial electric stimulation.

During an EMG, a specially trained technician inserts small needles called electrodes into the muscle. These electrodes record the different electrical activity that occurs in muscle tissue during periods of movement and rest.

The EMG machine produces an electromyogram, which is a record of this activity.

Neurologists can use the results of an EMG to diagnose neuromuscular diseases, such as myasthenia gravis and ALS.

Neurologists use electroencephalograms (EEG) to measure and record electrical activity in the brain.

Neurons in the brain communicate with other neurons through electrical impulses, which an EEG can detect. An EEG can also track brain wave patterns.

During an EEG, a technician will place electrodes on the persons head. These electrodes connect to a computer that converts electrical signals into patterns that the technician can view on a screen or print on a piece of paper.

Neurologists can use EEG results to identify abnormal electrical activity in the brain and diagnose certain conditions, such as:

Myasthenia gravis is a rare neuromuscular disease that weakens the muscles in the arms and legs. A neurologist can use a Tensilon test to diagnose myasthenia gravis.

Tensilon is the brand name of a drug called edrophonium, which prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle movement.

Myasthenia gravis causes the immune system to attack acetylcholine receptors in the muscles, which causes muscle fatigue and decreased muscle movement.

During a Tensilon test, a neurologist will inject a small amount of Tensilon into the bloodstream. Then, they will ask the person to perform different movements to determine if muscle strength improves.

The neurologist will continue administering doses of Tensilon each time the person feels tired. If the person notices that their strength returns after each Tensilon injection, this indicates that they are likely to have myasthenia gravis.

A neurologist can use the following tests to help diagnose neurological disorders:

A neurological examination will involve tests to check muscle strength, memory, eye health and vision, and coordination. The tests are not usually painful but may cause some mild discomfort.

People will not need to prepare anything for their first neurological visit. The appointment may involve the neurologist:

After this initial examination, a neurologist may then perform several assessments, such as:

A doctor might refer someone to a neurologist if they have symptoms that indicate a neurological condition, such as:

Both neurologists and neurosurgeons treat people who have conditions that affect the nervous system. However, neurosurgeons perform surgery, whereas neurologists do not.

Neurosurgeons complete medical school and then neurosurgery residency, which includes 1 year of general surgery internship, followed by 68 years of neurosurgery residency.

All neurosurgeons are qualified to operate on the brain and the spine, and some neurosurgeons further specialize in highly technical procedures.

Generally, a persons general practice doctor will refer them to a neurologist or a neurosurgeon. Sometimes a neurologist may refer to a neurosurgeon if surgery would be beneficial, and sometimes a neurosurgeon will refer to a neurologist if the individual requires neurological management.

Neurologists diagnose and treat medical conditions that affect the nervous system.

A general practice doctor may refer a person to a neurologist if they show signs of a neurological disorder, such as:

Neurologists can perform various procedures to help diagnose and treat neurological conditions. However, if a person requires surgery, their neurologist or doctor will refer them to a neurosurgeon.

Read more:
What is a neurologist? What they treat, procedures, and more