No lockdown for neurosurgeons
What should neurological patients do to protect themselves from Covid-19?
Neurological patients are at higher risk for infection and severe disease. This group of people should follow all recommended precautions with extreme diligence. It’s recommended that you practise social distancing and basic hygiene such as washing your hands, along with avoiding unnecessary contact with others.
It is also important to make sure that if the patient has epilepsy, stroke, brain tumour, diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, health is optimised as much as possible.
Don't skip any medications. Stay in touch with your doctor.
Neurological emergencies should always be treated as medical emergencies. The coronavirus will not impede our ability to provide our patients with fast, effective emergency care.
Why should one maintain a healthy lifestyle, even with increased time at home?
A healthy lifestyle plays a key role in being brainhealthy. Especially in the middle of a pandemic, it’s extremely important to eat a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and a good night’s sleep. All of these daily choices will help you stay as healthy as possible and help your body fight disease. Especially with exercise, I would encourage you to find creative ways to stay active at home.
Any special advice to the attendants of critical patients who are home-treated to recognise emergencies?
BE FAST to identify stroke symptoms. (B.E. F.A.S.T. stands for Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm and Speech Test for stroke).
Balance is for sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes; Face: Check for facial weakness first; Arms: Next, check for arm weakness; Speech: Check for impaired speech; Time: Immediately call the doctor.
In the event of symptoms like severe headache, fits, loss of consciousness, take the patient to the hospital for further evaluation. Do not allow fear of Covid19 to stop you from seeking emergency care.
Any suggestions on not using self-medication during the lockdown? For all the benefits of “stay home and save lives” non-stop Coronavirus coverage has led to a tragic miscommunication. This has led to more patients arriving at Emergency when it is too late to intervene.
Approximately two million nerve cells die each minute during an ischemic stroke. Those who survive may risk long-term physical and cognitive impairment that can substantially decrease the quality of life. Hence it is better to visit the hospital and not to self-medicate at home.
What about teleneurology services?
It is a branch of telemedicine that offers consultations for neurological problems from a remote location using telephone or the Internet. Some conditions can be diagnosed and treated, including headaches, dementia, strokes, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. It reduces non-emergency hospital visits, saving patients’ time and travel costs and alleviating fears of Covid-19 exposure.
Any message for the elderly during the lockdown?
Older adults, especially in isolation and those with cognitive decline/dementia may become more anxious, angry, stressed, agitated and withdrawn during the outbreak or while in quarantine. Provide practical and emotional support through informal networks (families) and health professionals.
Does Covid-19 affect the brain?
It causes a dangerous condition called acute necrotising haemorrhagic encephalopathy due to infection or immune response.
Any online training programme for attendants on using medical equipment to assess the basic neurological deterioration?
If any patient makes an online request, doctors and nursing staff will help them to record blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse oximeter and in identifying the danger signs.
In the event of symptoms like severe headache, fits, loss of consciousness, take the patient to the hospital for further evaluation. Do not allow fear of Covid-19 to stop you from seeking emergency care. In Older adults, especially in isolation and those with cognitive decline/dementia may become more anxious, angry, stressed, agitated and withdrawn during the outbreak or while in quarantine. Provide practical and emotional support through informal networks (families) and health professionals.