The vast increase of neurological disorders is troubling. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are burdened with neurological disorders, and this doesn’t take into account the masses of undiagnosed in rural and developing areas. Worldwide, there are currently more than 50 million people diagnosed with Epilepsy and more than 35 million people diagnosed with Alzheimer disease and other dementias. Stroke is ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States with Alzheimer’s disease ranked sixth. On average, there are over 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease reporting in the United States every year. One study done by the World Health Organization found that 80% of the highest classed disabilities were neurological.
Unfortunately, the necessity for an experienced, quality neurologist is illustrated by the unsettling statistics above. Too often, individuals wait longer than optimal before seeing a specialists, with the thought of, what can a neurologist even do for me? – or – my ailments aren’t bad enough to justify visiting a neurologists. Chances are, they are. If nothing more than peace of mind, neurologists are able to interpret a diverse range of neurological symptoms such as headaches, migraines, blackouts, weakness, seizures, smells, numbness, or other sensory implications.
A major benefit when it comes to seeing a neurologist is the capability to treat the cause of an issue, not merely the symptom. General practitioners often times do not have the area of expertise to diagnose the cause of a variety of symptoms. In contrast, neurologists are uniquely trained to image, record, map and interpret data gather from the brain, the source of most symptoms. Neurology is also pioneering discovery in other areas of overall wellness. For example, recently neurology has comprehensively diagnosed and treated a variety of sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, REM behavior disorder, sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, shift work syndrome and more. Another example is found in a 2011 study by the American Academy of Neurology that found people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who see a neurologist, as opposed to their general practitioner seeing counterparts, are 20% more likely to live longer, 20% more likely to stay out of nursing homes and 14% less likely to suffer from a hip fractures.
No matter the excuses used in the past, if you’re worried about your neurological health, now is the time to visit your neurologist. Christopher Duma and his team of professionals are leaders in the field of neurology and offer an unparalleled level of service and expertise. To learn more about neurological disorders, or to get the best care possible, call us at 949-642-6787.
