The doctor named five non-obvious reasons to see a neurologist

On International Neurologist Day, December 1, Polina Lepilova, a neurologist at SberZdorovye medical company, told Izvestia about five non-obvious reasons to consult a specialist in this field.

"The reason for a consultation with a neurologist may be a feeling of anxiety and internal tension, apathy and a decrease in mood. These conditions can be associated with various factors, including stress, overwork, depression, anxiety disorders and some diseases of internal organs, such as thyroid gland. It is worth noting that a long course of anxiety and depressive disorder can also lead to chronic back pain, chronic headaches, some people may have panic attacks on the background of anxiety," she noted.

According to her, as treatment, depending on the cause, the neurologist will select individual therapy, including medication, such as anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, and in some situations - neuroleptics and anticonvulsants. If necessary, the doctor will refer to specialists of a narrower profile, for example, an endocrinologist, psychologist, psychiatrist. Feelings of anxiety and internal tension should not be ignored, as this can lead to the development of serious psychological and physiological problems and reduced quality of life, she emphasized.

"If a person is concerned about difficulties with falling asleep, waking up or quality of sleep, it is also recommended to consult a neurologist. This condition can be associated with both psychological conditions and organic diseases, such as arthritis, thyrotoxicosis, oncologic diseases, as well as taking certain medications. If indicated, a neurologist may prescribe a comprehensive examination, such as blood tests, ECG, polysomnography", - specified Lepilova.

She noted that visual disturbances, such as flickering, flashes of light or loss of field of vision should also be a reason to consult with a neurologist. These manifestations are often precursors to a migraine attack. A neurologist will help determine whether the above symptoms are really associated with this disease or this is a manifestation of other pathologies, for example, brain neoplasm, aneurysm, multiple sclerosis.

"Immediate consultation of a neurologist require sharply and first appeared double vision, decreased visual acuity, the appearance of a "spot" in front of the eye, pain when moving the eyeball at a young age, as these may be symptoms of multiple sclerosis," - said the specialist.

Another reason to make an appointment with a neurologist is numbness and tingling in the extremities, Lepilova added. These complaints can be associated with such causes as a pinched nerve in the spine or another part of the body, injuries, problems with blood circulation in the hands and feet.

"If numbness and tingling in the extremities are intermittent or accompanied by other symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, impaired coordination of movements or speech problems, double vision and loss of visual fields, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor, as it may also be a sign of stroke or other acute pathology," explained the specialist.

The doctor added that the reason for contacting a neurologist may also be discomfort in the legs - pain, burning, tingling, muscle weakness. There are many causes of this condition, such as arthritis, circulatory disorders of the lower extremities, restless legs syndrome, as well as spinal diseases - herniated discs and protrusions.

In early October, neurologist, expert physician of the laboratory "Gemotest" Ekaterina Demyanovskaya named "Izvestia" products that can help reduce stress. It is important to provide the body with such substances as tryptophan, magnesium, omega-3 and vitamin B9, she warned. As the expert explained, they can be obtained from milk, bananas, fatty fish and eggs.