When to consult your Neurologist ? Common Neurological symptoms

Neurological problems are very common in all age groups. In certain situations, we need to consult our neurologist for proper treatment:

• Fever with headache, neck pain, vomiting, vertigo and drowsiness.
• Sudden severe headache, Persistent headache, Migraine, Facial pain.
• Sudden or progressive vision loss, drooping of eyelids, double vision.
• Imbalance or difficulty during walking/ repeated falls/ slowness in walking.
• Slurring of speech, difficulty in swallowing, facial deviation, drooling of saliva.
• Seizures, Epilepsy, any involuntary movement of body like tremors of hand.
• Stroke, Paralysis (as early as possible, window period: 4.5 hours for early treatment).
• Backache, neck pain, arm, pain, leg pain on bending, coughing, sneezing and walking.
• Bladder/ bowel disturbances (urgency, frequency, incontinence, dribbling, constipation).
• Tingling and numbness in hands and feet, thinning of limbs, abnormal temperature sensation.
• Memory loss, difficulty in naming, calculation and finding ways, change in behavior and sleep.
• Neuromuscular weakness of limbs (difficulty in gripping, doing overhead activities, standing. from  sitting position, climbing upstairs), neck weakness.

Prevention of neurological problems:

• Community awareness.
• Stop Smoking & tobacco chewing, quit alcohol.
• Control of risk factors: Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia/high cholesterol.
• Diet/life style modifications: daily brisk walking, exercise, yoga, diet rich in fruits & vegetables.

Dr Gourav Jain, MD, DM Neurology (PGI Chandigarh)
Consultant, Neurologist,