For headaches and dizziness, patients usually consult a general practitioner. However, in such cases, the therapist often issues a referral to an angioneurologist. What does this doctor treat? And with what symptoms is it necessary to consult such a specialist? We will answer these questions in the article.
Specialty Features
What kind of doctor is an angioneurologist? This question interests patients when the therapist directs them for a consultation with this specialist.
An angioneurologist is a doctor who treats and diagnoses vascular diseases that carry blood to the brain. This is a relatively new medical specialty. More recently, neuropathologists have been involved in such pathologies. Currently, you can consult a doctor with a narrower specialization, which identifies 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 specialty are engaged not only in the treatment, but also in the prevention of ischemia of the heart and brain. Any types of cerebrovascular disorders are within their competence.
Not in every clinic you can meet a doctor of this specialty. Angioneurologists usually receive appointments in urban and regional clinical diagnostic centers, as well as in medical research institutions involved in the study and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.
Brain pathology
What does an angioneurologist 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 has a vascular origin, then an additional consultation with a doctor who thoroughly understands cerebrovascular disorders is needed. In this case, the patient is redirected to an angioneurologist.
This specialist treats the following vascular pathologies:
- stroke;
- cerebral ischemia;
- vascular disorders after head injuries;
- disorders of cerebral circulation against a background of hypertension.
However, head vessel disease is not the only specialty of an angioneurologist. What does this doctor treat other than 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 with a regular neurologist. However, in doubtful cases, consultation with a specialist in the anatomy and angioneurology of the head and neck is required. He will appoint 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 angioeurologist treat, except for brain diseases? You can also contact this doctor for pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and peripheral nerves:
- osteochondrosis;
- Ankylosing spondylitis;
- neuralgia in the neck;
- dystrophy of nerve fibers (neuropathy).
Pathologies of the vessels of the head and neck are often satellites of osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine. An angioneurologist will help diagnose such complications.
Other pathologies
What does an angioneurologist do, except for the above diseases? This is a specialist of a rather wide profile. Therapists refer patients to this doctor also if the patient has signs of the following pathologies:
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- neurocirculatory dystonia;
- insomnia.
Establishing the etiology of such diseases is sometimes very difficult. However, their causes may be associated with pathologies of the cerebral vessels, which only an angioneurologist can accurately identify.
Symptomatology
What symptoms does a patient need to consult with an angioneurologist? The following pathological manifestations may be the reason for contacting this specialist:
- chronic headaches of unknown origin;
- Dizziness
- unsteady gait and movement disorder;
- imbalance;
- convulsive attacks;
- difficulty falling asleep;
- double vision
- persistent hypertension;
- numbness of the arms and legs;
- fainting
- pain in the back and neck;
- fecal and urinary incontinence.
All these symptoms can occur both with changes in brain tissue and with vascular disorders. An accurate differential diagnosis can only be performed by a doctor who specializes in head and neck angioneurology.
Primary reception
Typically, patients are admitted to an angioneurologist in the direction of doctors of other specialties. Many patients by this time already have time to undergo a number 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 a neurologist and cardiologist.
An angioneurologist begins an examination of the patient with a medical history and clarification of complaints. He can also clarify what pathologies the patient suffered in the past. Then the doctor examines the neurological condition of the patient using the following tests:
- finger-nasal test (to assess the balance and coordination of movements);
- test using a neurological hammer (to study knee reflexes).
If the office has the necessary equipment, then the doctor during the initial appointment can conduct an ultrasound scan of the brain vessels.
Diagnostic Methods
After examining the patient, the angioeurologist may prescribe the following diagnostic procedures:
- MRI of the brain;
- Dopplerography of the head and neck vessels;
- blood test for biochemical parameters;
- angiography.
Based on the data from these studies, it is possible to confirm or deny the presence of vascular diseases in the patient.
If the patient has revealed pathologies of the cerebral vessels, then it is necessary to conduct additional diagnostics in order to determine their etiology. The following laboratory tests and instrumental examinations can be prescribed to the patient:
- coagulogram (blood coagulation test);
- lipid profile (blood test showing impaired fat metabolism);
- aggregatogram (bleeding test);
- psychological testing (to assess memory impairment and cognitive abilities);
- X-ray of the vessels of the skull with a contrast agent;
- fundus examination (for diabetes).
Treatment methods
So, we found out that the angioneurologist treats. And what methods of therapy can this specialist recommend to patients? It should be remembered that this doctor deals with a very wide range of diseases, so the treatment methods are selected individually in each case. Their choice depends on the diagnosis.
In mild cases, an angioneurologist may prescribe medication or physiotherapy. He can also recommend exercise therapy or spa treatment to the patient. If the disease is started, then the angioneurologist issues a referral to the surgeon to resolve the issue of the operation.
After recovery or achievement of stable remission, the angioneurologist gives patients advice on the prevention of relapse pathology. In chronic diseases, these recommendations must be followed for life.
Also, chronic patients angioneurologist can put on a clinical record. 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 many positive reviews from patients about angioeurologists. The consultation of such a specialist has helped many people to identify vascular diseases of the brain in a timely manner and immediately begin to treat them.
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 a doctor-angioneurologist helped to identify the true cause of pathological manifestations.
Patients regret only that in ordinary district clinics, angioneurologists very rarely receive. To get advice from such a specialist, sometimes you have to contact large medical institutions, which may be located far from the patient’s place of residence. But many brain diseases are at the junction of two medical sciences - angiology and neuropathology. And in this case, you can’t do without consulting a specialist in angioneurology.