For headaches and dizziness, patients usually go to a general practitioner. However, in such cases, the therapist often issues a referral to an angioneurologist. What does this doctor treat? And at what symptomatology consultation of such expert is necessary? We will answer these questions in the article.
Features of the speci alty
What kind of doctor is an angioneurologist? This question interests patients when a therapist refers them to a consultation with this specialist.
Angioneurologist is a doctor who treats and diagnoses diseases of the vessels that carry blood to the brain. This is a relatively new medical speci alty. More recently, neuropathologists de alt with such pathologies. Currently, you can turn to a doctor with a narrower specialization, who detects and treats vascular pathologies of the central nervous system.
Angioneurologists have great knowledge in the field of cardiology. After all, the vessels of the brain and coronary arteries are closely interconnected. Doctors of this speci alty are engaged not only in treatment,but also the prevention of ischemia of the heart and brain. Any kind of cerebral circulatory disorders are within their competence.
Not every clinic can meet a doctor of this speci alty. Angio-neurologists usually conduct appointments in city and regional clinical diagnostic centers, as well as in medical research institutions involved in the study and treatment of vascular diseases of the brain.
Pathologies of the brain
What does an angio-neurologist treat? First of all, this doctor deals with various disorders of cerebral circulation. With such diseases, patients most often turn to a neurologist. This doctor specializes in CNS pathologies. But if the disease is of vascular origin, then an additional consultation with a doctor who is thoroughly versed in disorders of the cerebral circulation is needed. In this case, the patient is referred to an angio-neurologist.
This specialist treats the following vascular pathologies:
- stroke;
- ischemia of cerebral vessels;
- vascular disorders after head trauma;
- disorders of cerebral circulation due to hypertension.
However, diseases of the vessels of the head are not the only specialization of an angioneurologist. What does this doctor treat besides ischemic disorders? This doctor also deals with other diseases of the central nervous system:
- epilepsy;
- parkinsonism;
- multiple sclerosis;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- encephalopathy.
These pathologies can be treated by a regular neurologist. However, in doubtful cases, consultation with a specialist in anatomy and angioneurology of the head and neck is required. He will prescribe additional examinations to the patient, which will help to differentiate purely neurological problems from vascular disorders.
Diseases of the spine and peripheral nerves
What does an angio-neurologist treat, besides brain diseases? You can also contact this doctor for pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and peripheral nerves:
- osteochondrosis;
- Bekhterev's disease;
- neuralgia in the neck;
- dystrophies of nerve fibers (neuropathy).
Pathologies of the vessels of the head and neck are often companions of osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine. An angio-neurologist can help diagnose these complications.
Other pathologies
What does an angioneurologist do, besides the above diseases? This is a fairly generalist. Therapists refer patients to this doctor also if the patient has signs of the following pathologies:
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- neurocirculatory dystonia;
- insomnia.
Establish the etiology of such diseases is sometimes very difficult. However, their causes may be associated with pathologies of cerebral vessels, which can only be accurately identified by an angio-neurologist.
Symptomatics
What symptomsDoes the patient need to consult an angio-neurologist? The reason for contacting this specialist may be the following pathological manifestations:
- chronic headaches of unknown origin;
- dizziness;
- unsteady gait and coordination disorders;
- disbalance;
- convulsive seizures;
- difficulty falling asleep;
- double vision;
- persistent hypertension;
- numbness of arms and legs;
- fainting;
- pain in the back and neck;
- fecal and urinary incontinence.
All these symptoms can occur both with changes in brain tissues and with vascular disorders. An accurate differential diagnosis can only be made by a doctor specializing in angioneurology of the head and neck.
First appointment
Usually, patients get an appointment with an angio-neurologist on a referral from doctors of other speci alties. Many patients by this time already have time to undergo a series of diagnostic procedures. When contacting an angioneurologist, it is advisable to have the results of the following examinations with you:
- dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck;
- conclusion of neuropathologist and cardiologist.
The angioneurologist begins the examination of the patient with the collection of anamnesis and clarification of complaints. He can also clarify what pathologies the patient has suffered in the past. The doctor then examines the patient's neurological condition with the following tests:
- finger-nasal test (to assess balance and coordinationmovements);
- Test using a neurological hammer (to study knee reflexes).
If the office has the necessary equipment, the doctor during the initial appointment can conduct an ultrasound scan of the vessels of the brain.
Diagnostic Methods
After examining the patient, the angioneurologist may prescribe the following diagnostic procedures:
- MRI of the brain;
- dopplerography of head and cervical vessels;
- blood test for biochemical parameters;
- angiography.
Based on the data of these studies, it is possible to confirm or disprove the presence of vascular diseases in a patient.
If a patient has pathologies of cerebral vessels, then it is necessary to conduct additional diagnostics in order to determine their etiology. The patient may be prescribed the following laboratory tests and instrumental examinations:
- coagulogram (blood clotting test);
- lipidogram (blood test showing disorders of fat metabolism);
- aggregatogram (bleeding test);
- psychological testing (to assess memory and cognitive impairments);
- x-ray of skull vessels with contrast agent;
- examination of the fundus (for diabetes).
Treatments
So, we found out what an angio-neurologist treats. And what methods of therapy can this specialistrecommend to patients? It should be remembered that this doctor deals with a very wide range of diseases, so the methods of treatment are selected individually in each case. Their choice depends on the established diagnosis.
In mild cases, an angio-neurologist may prescribe medication or physiotherapy. He can also recommend exercise therapy or sanatorium treatment to the patient. If the disease is advanced, then the angio-neurologist issues a referral to the surgeon to decide on the operation.
After recovery or achieving a stable remission, an angio-neurologist gives advice to patients on the prevention of recurrence of the pathology. For chronic illnesses, these recommendations should be followed for life.
Also, an angio-neurologist can put chronic patients on dispensary records. In this case, patients need to visit a doctor at least 2 times a year and undergo all the necessary diagnostic tests.
Reviews
You can find a lot of positive feedback from patients about angioneurologists. The consultation of such a specialist helped many people to identify vascular diseases of the brain in a timely manner and immediately begin their treatment.
In the reviews, patients note that for a long time they were worried about headaches and dizziness. These people had to go through many consultations of different doctors and a lot of examinations. However, the origin of neurological disorders has not been established. And only an appeal to an angioneurologist helped to identify the true cause of pathological manifestations.
Patients only regret that in ordinary district clinics, angioneurologists very rarely see patients. To get advice from such a specialist, sometimes you have to go to large medical institutions that may be far from the patient's place of residence. But many diseases of the brain are at the junction of two medical sciences - angiology and neuropathology. And in this case, one cannot do without consulting a specialist in angioneurology.
