NEUROLOGY

Neurology is the medical science that deals with the physiology and diseases of the nervous system. The nervous system is made up of three parts: the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system. Diseases that develop in any of these three departments and do not require surgical intervention are treated by the neurology department. Neurology is divided into two separate branches: adult and pediatric neurology. In our neurology department, our specialists provide intensive care services in the follow-up of diseases that require intensive care, as well as outpatient and inpatient treatment services.

What diseases does neurology treat?

• Cerebral Vascular Diseases: Brain hemorrhages and cerebrovascular occlusions are included in the scope of cerebrovascular diseases. A stroke, as it is popularly called, is an event that occurs when one of the cerebral vessels is blocked and that part of the brain cannot be fed. It can manifest in the form of various neurological manifestations. Cell death occurs in the areas fed by the occluded vessel, and depending on the region, loss of strength, speech loss, dizziness, visual disturbances and loss of consciousness can be seen on one side of the body. Neurologists use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR) or Computed Tomography (CT) to detect the occluded vessels and the affected areas and arrange the treatment. Cerebrovascular diseases include, in addition to vascular occlusion, cerebral hemorrhages caused by blood pressure and venous hemorrhages caused by vein occlusion. The follow-up and treatment of brain hemorrhages that do not require surgical evacuation are also performed by neurologists. Patients who develop unconsciousness and require respiratory or cardiac support are treated in the intensive care unit, and patients who do not require intensive care support are treated in the clinic.
• Epilepsy: which is popularly known as having seizures, is among the diseases followed by the neurology unit. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures are the most common type of epileptic seizures, characterized by involuntary movements in the arms and legs, loss of consciousness, foaming at the mouth and urinary incontinence. The primary examination method used in the follow-up and treatment of epilepsy is electroencephalography (EEG). Epilepsy can start in childhood, although it can rarely occur in adulthood. In cases of seizures that occur in adulthood, the person should definitely consult a neurologist and perform the necessary examinations. The examinations that should be done primarily are MRI and EEG (Electroencephalography). Epilepsy treatment is done by neurologists with antiepileptic drugs. In our hospital, both adult and pediatric EEGs and,when necessary, sleep EEGs are performed.
• Headache: it is one of the most common complaints in our society. The most common type of headache is a migraine or tension headache. The diagnosis is made according to the patient’s complaints and the type of headache. Diagnosis and treatment of headache is done by the neurology unit. Generally, the treatment of patients is arranged by applying imaging methods such as MRI or CT, according to the anamnesis or when the neurologist deems it necessary.
• Dementia: although depression is the most common cause of forgetfulness at young ages, the incidence of dementia in society is increasing due to the prolongation of human life. The most common cause of dementia in the elderly is Alzheimer’s disease. Complaints that begin with forgetfulness progress to decreased cognitive activities, thought disorders, difficulty performing daily tasks, refusal to eat and withdrawal. Apart from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia can also be seen due to disorders in the structure of the brain vessels. Follow-up and treatment of these diseases are done by neurologists.

• Movement Disorders: wovement disorders include diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, dyskinesias and restless legs syndrome. The diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease, which is characterized by tremors in the hands, involuntary movements, loss of facial expression and gait disorders, are performed by the neurology unit. Apart from Parkinson’s disease, if you have complaints such as trembling in the hands, swinging like a pendulum, involuntary movements in the legs at night and burning, you can get rid of your complaints in light of the necessary treatments by applying to the neurology units.
• Sleep Disorders: with stress playing an important role in our lives, sleep disorders have become one of the most common health problems today. Pathologies such as snoring and sleep apnea (breathing during sleep) can disrupt the quality of your sleep at night, causing insufficient sleep intake and a feeling of constant fatigue. Polysomnography (a sleep test), which must be done in the evaluation of these situations, can be done both at home and in the hospital environment. Sleep EEG, which is used both in the evaluation of sleep and in the diagnosis of some epilepsy types, is also applied in the neurology unit. CPAP machine, BPAP machine and ASV titration, which are among the options in the treatment of sleep disorders due to snoring, are applied in our hospital. If you have snoring or sleep apnea complaints noticed by your relatives, if you have trouble falling asleep, or if you think you are sleeping excessively, do not hasitate to make an appointment with the neurology department.
• Demyelinating diseases: myelin is an insulating substance that covers the sheath of nerve cells and is essential for the nervous system to continue its function. Depending on the loss of this substance, various neurological findings depend on the functions of the affected nerve cells. The most common demyelinating disease is multiple sclerosis (MS). MS attacks become more severe. After the attacks, the complaints may decrease, disappear, or develop permanent damage. The diagnosis of an attack is made by the presence of contrast media-retaining plaques observed in MRI, in addition to newly emerging neurological damage in the patient. Apart from the attack treatment, there are various preventive treatment options that will prevent the patients from having an attack. MS is a chronic disease that should be followed up and treated by neurologists. Apart from MS, there are other rare demyelinating diseases such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and Devic’s disease.
• Muscle Diseases: the most common autoimmune disease among muscle diseases is Myasthenia Graves and the most common genetically transmitted disease is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Since there are disorders in nerve and muscle conduction in these diseases, muscle thinning, a decrease in muscle mass and a disorder in muscle contraction are observed. Myasthenia gravis most commonly affects and is associated with the eye muscles. Eyelid drooping, visual disturbances due to weakness in the eye muscles and double vision, difficulty chewing and swallowing and weakening of the arm and leg muscles are expected in the future. These diseases are also diagnosed and treated by the neurology department.

In addition to these diseases, the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as vertigo (dizziness), facial paralysis, facial pain and diabetes-related nerve damage (diabetic polyneuropathy) are also carried out by the neurology department.