What does a neurologist do?
Neurology is the specialty in medical science that concentrates on examining, diagnosing, treating, and managing conditions and injuries that affect the nervous system, brain, and spinal cord. Neurologists are the primary healthcare providers for any neurological condition. They utilize medical tests like computer-assisted tomography (CAT), electroencephalograms (EEG), & magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect the conditions related to the brain, nervous system, or spinal cord. They are specialists in treating chronic conditions, learning disabilities, mental disorders, memory loss, etc. Neurologists can also manage Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, brain tumors, brain or spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, etc.
A neurologist is different from a neurosurgeon. Neurosurgeons are trained in surgical issues, while neurologists manage conditions with medication and therapy. A neurosurgeon can examine and treat neurological disorders through surgical or non-surgical methodologies. Since their training is extensive, they are often consulted for critical cases. Neurosurgeons treat emergency brain trauma, artery blockages, aneurysms, tumors, chronic back pain, peripheral tissues of the nervous system, and congenital disabilities. They also treat diseases like Parkinson's.
While neurologists and neurosurgeons use minimally invasive techniques to repair blood vessels within the brain, these specialists differ. Neurologists treat patients with medications and therapies and closely monitor patients' health while treatment continues. On the other hand, neurosurgeons can perform fully functional surgeries to correct a specific neurological disorder or condition.
To practice as a neurologist in the United States, a doctor has to complete the following:
- Four years of medical school
- One year of internship in neurology and other fields
- Three years of residency in neurology
- About three years of fellowship (not mandatory) in a neurology subspecialty such as:
- Brain injury medicine
- Child neurology
- Clinical neurophysiology
- Epilepsy
- Headache medicine
- Geriatric neurology
- Neurodevelopmental disabilities
- Neuroimaging
- Neuro-oncology
- Pain medicine
- Sleep medicine
- Vascular neurology
When should you see—a neurologist or a neurosurgeon?
When you are going through any symptoms that may point toward an underlying neurological condition, your instant reaction would be to research the same. Some of the common symptoms for which you may want to see a neurologist are:
- Burning or electric shock-like sensations in any part
- Difficulty with movements like turning the neck or shrugging your shoulders
- Facial asymmetries where one side of your face does not match the other, such as drooping eyelid or inability to smile
- Forgetfulness or memory disturbances
- Imbalance in gait
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle cramps, spasms, or twitching
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Ringing in ears or deafness
- Seizures
- Taste or smell disturbances
- Tremors
- Vision problems
You should see a neurologist near you if you observe any such symptoms and suspect a possible neurological condition. If you feel unsure, you can see your general physician, who will examine your symptoms and refer you to a neurologist if required. A neurosurgeon comes second when your neurologist makes a formal recommendation after observing your condition. In many cases, surgical intervention may not be required, but in cases where it is, the neurologist will recommend you to a neurosurgeon for further evaluation and treatment.
Depending on the status of your condition, a neurologist will incorporate medications and therapies for you. Your neurologist will work with your primary healthcare doctor and other professionals to restore your health. These professionals could be:
- Pain medicine specialists: They operate as per the medication plan charted out by your neurologist. They treat you specifically to lower the pain levels that you are facing.
- Speech therapists: Certain neurological conditions, like a brain injury or a stroke, can cause speech impairment. Speech therapists will help you regain control of your vocal cords.
- Occupational therapists: These therapists help you relearn the essential skills you need to operate daily, such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing your teeth, etc.
- Physical therapists: These therapists help you regain control of body movement and reflexes, regain strength and balance, and treat the pain you feel during these activities.
- Psychiatrists: While you are undergoing treatment for a neurological condition, there is a high chance that your mental health is affected. Psychiatrists can help you talk and lower your stress levels in such cases.
What to expect at your neurologist appointment?
While preparing for your first visit to a neurologist near you, remember to:
- Bring a list of the concerns you want to discuss with your neurologist.
- Record your symptoms, their frequency of occurrence, duration, severity, and actions to manage them
- Bring a list of your current and past prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamin supplements, and other products.
- Carry copies of previous test results and lab work.
During the appointment, your neurologist will ask about your current signs and symptoms, medical history, and family history. They will conduct a neurologic examination to test your:
- Coordination, balance, reflexes, and gait
- Muscle strength
- Mental health
- Vision, hearing, and speech
- Sensation
They may order blood tests and other lab work to understand your symptoms better. Standard neurological tests are angiography, biopsy, computed tomography (C.T.), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Your neurologist would devise a treatment plan based on the diagnosis, including medications, physical therapy, or other approaches.
How to maintain brain health and fitness?
People often start paying attention to brain health only after observing age-related cognitive changes and memory loss. However, neurological conditions are not just age-limited. One must maintain a routine to keep one's brain health in check throughout one's lifetime. Here is how you can take a step toward a fitter and healthier nervous system:
- Maintaining heart health: Staying on top of your cardiovascular health, with your doctor's assistance, can help in brain fitness. Conditions such as smoking, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., can all increase the chances of developing neurodegenerative problems. These issues can impede blood flow to the brain. You must ensure that blood quickly moves through your heart and blood vessels. Hardened artery walls can make it difficult for enough blood to reach the brain and nurture brain cells, leading to strokes. Lack of blood supply to a specific brain part can lead to temporary or permanent brain damage. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including forgoing smoking and excessive drinking, can significantly improve heart health, promoting better brain health.
- Getting adequate sleep and rest: Shutting the brain off for seven to nine hours daily while you sleep is a crucial way to keep your brain working efficiently. It not only helps in brain resetting but also allows it to heal and restore mental health. To achieve this, you may consider the following:
- Having a routine and fixed bedtime every night.
- Turn off all electronic devices at least 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.
- Write down anxiety-inducing thoughts such as lingering concerns or to-do lists for the next day.
- Perform five to ten minutes of mindful meditation.
- Moving your body enough: Exercise helps physical, mental, and cognitive health. Regular physical activity can increase the hippocampus size, which is an essential part of the brain responsible for memory. It can also help increase blood flow to the brain. High-intensity exercise is not necessary. You may adopt habits such as walking for 30 minutes a day, swimming, or taking a dance class into your daily life to foster your brain's well-being.
Apart from these practices, it would help if you tried to socialize and connect with people as much as possible. This way, you are less likely to feel low and unmotivated. Listening and formulating responses enables blood flow to different parts of the brain. Another endeavor can constantly be trying new things. Building new skills and regularly challenging your brain fosters the creation of new neural networks. The more such neural circuits exist, the harder it is for neurodegenerative issues to develop.
Finding the best neurologist for your needs in Austin, Texas
Neurological conditions vary, affecting millions of people in the USA. Finding a good doctor is highly crucial to your healing journey. Zocdoc provides a verified listing of the highest-rated neurologists. Searching for neurologists is quick and straightforward. Just type in your location, time, and insurance plan; Zocdoc will direct you to the best neurologists near you in Austin.
To choose your insurance plan, enter the name of your insurance company in the search query. If you can't find your medical insurance plan on Zocdoc, upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will automatically scan the image and display the most likely plan for you. This feature isn't available for dental or vision insurance cards. If you face any issues while uploading the image, don't hesitate to contact Zocdoc's Service Team for assistance. Additionally, you can check out Zocdoc's Patient Help Center for answers to any further insurance-related queries.
Choosing a practitioner has always been challenging. Zocdoc helps you access practitioners' profiles to view their education, training, experience, affiliations, and services offered, among other information. Moreover, you can also read verified patient reviews to help you select the best practitioners.
With Zocdoc, you can make all appointments online, with the option of in-person visits or video consultations. If you cannot make time during the weekdays, you can also book an appointment in the early morning before 10 am or in the evening after 5 pm. Some neurologists also attend to patients during weekends. You can use the extensive filters within the platform to narrow down the search results.
All bookings with Zocdoc are fast, secure, and free.
Neurology statistics in Texas
Neurological conditions impact millions of people in the U.S. The USA ranks first in the highest age-standardized death rates, with 47.4 per 100,000 population by neurological disorders. The premature mortality rate is also the highest in the USA compared to other countries. Even with such alarming numbers, there is a deficiency in the number of neurologists. Fewer candidates are opting for neurology each year. Out of all the medical students, only 3.1% choose a residency in neurology.
Neurologists deal with a variety of conditions. According to the Texas Human Health and Services, roughly 6.5 million Americans had Alzheimer's disease in 2022, of which about 400,000 are Texans. Information from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts suggests that ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) affects about 18,000 people in the United States. Another condition that neurologists treat is traumatic brain injury, with approximately 223,135 hospitalizations in 2019, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest that Texas has 440 active neurologists out of 7,120 in the USA. There are roughly 14 neurologists for every 1,000,000 people. Out of these, around 30 neurologists are active in Austin. There is a growing need to increase the number of neurologists to meet the enormous demand.
Sources
Neurology
Pan American Health Organization
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Cleveland Clinic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Texas Human Health and Services
