Did you know that there are more than 7,000 neurologists in the United States alone? Neurology doctors are very important for treating all sorts of harmful conditions that affect the brain. But what kind of conditions can these doctors treat exactly?
As it turns out, neurology doctors can treat both minor and major neurological conditions. Keep reading and learn more about the details and responsibilities of this job position.
- Headaches
The specialization of headache medicine is one of the more popular neurology specializations, and for a good reason. Many people suffer from all sorts of headaches on a regular basis. Migraines are especially harmful, and chronic migraines can even interfere with a person’s normal life.
This is because migraines are so painful that they can leave a person more or less completely debilitated until the migraine goes away on its own. Some people also see auras around people and objects due to severe migraines. As you can imagine, this can interfere with daily tasks such as driving a car or working on simple projects.
Fortunately, neurology doctors can help with migraines and headaches. Migraines may be rooted in some kind of neurological abnormality. If so, a neurologist may be able to fix the problem.
- Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition that causes seizures. These seizures usually start at random intervals, and there doesn’t need to be a trigger to start the seizure. A seizure is a condition that involves an electrical disturbance in the brain.
This disturbance can cause a person to seize, fall unconscious, or lose control of his or her bodily function. There are different types of seizures that a person may experience. Some may be very mild, while others may be very severe and may even result in brain damage.
While there is no cure for epilepsy, there are several treatment options available, and that’s where a neurologist comes in. A neurologist can evaluate a person’s epilepsy and determine what kind of treatment would be best for a person’s individual type of epilepsy.
- Concussions
Concussions are the result of some kind of trauma to the head. For example, if you are involved in a car accident and happen to slam your head on the car’s headboard, you may develop a concussion. Concussions can be very serious as they can cause swelling or bleeding in and around the brain.
This can be fatal if left untreated. There are also mild concussions that may not affect you very much, but they still need proper treatment. Some people also experience effects after their concussion heals.
This is known as post-concussion syndrome, and the symptoms that linger can make it difficult to live a normal life. Again, a neurologist can help ensure that you get back on your feet after sustaining a concussion, no matter how severe it might be.
- Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating condition that often occurs in women, although it can also occur in men as well. It involves the degeneration of the protective myelin sheaths that cover parts of the neurons in your brain and spinal cord. As the neurons become more vulnerable, the affected person may start to experience all sorts of symptoms, such as muscle weakness and numbness.
Some people may be unable to walk or move due to the severity of the condition. A neurologist can help diagnose a person with this condition. A neurologist can also ensure that the person with MS has the right treatment options he or she needs to live a relatively normal and fulfilling life.
- Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that usually affects elderly people. However, in rare cases, it may affect people much earlier.
This disease is characterized by the inability to control the movement of your own body. For example, if you try to move your hand or pick something up, your hand may shake uncontrollably even if you try and make it stop shaking.
Parkinson’s disease is the result of a lack of dopamine in the brain. Since dopamine helps the brain stabilize your movements, it makes sense that a lack of dopamine would result in stiffness and instability. A neurologist can not only diagnose this condition but also provide you with the right treatment options so you can live as normal of a life as possible.
- Stroke
A stroke is when a part of your brain is temporarily deprived of oxygen. Even if this happens for a short time, cells in the brain will start to die as they are not getting any nutrients or oxygen from any supply of blood. During a stroke, a person may experience slurred speech, drooping muscles, and other symptoms.
After a stroke, a person may have difficulty moving parts of their body or speaking. A neurologist can assess the stroke’s degree of damage and provide treatment.
- Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease usually occurs in elderly people and involves the growth of plaques in the brain. It is not known why these plaques occur, but they disrupt the brain’s normal processes. As a result, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will find it progressively difficult to remember things, faces, and places.
While there is no cure, a neurologist can provide treatment so that this disease may not progress as quickly.
What Do Neurology Doctors Treat?
Neurology doctors treat all sorts of conditions related to the brain and brain health. For example, they may treat epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, strokes, concussions, and so on. While a neurologist may not be able to cure certain conditions, he or she can still provide treatment to improve the patient’s quality of life.
To learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us here.