Guillain-Barre Syndrome Center - Altoona, PAAltoona Neurologist Doctors for Guillain-Barre SyndromeType of Physician: Neurologist What is a Neurologist? A certification by the Board of Psychiatry & Neurology; practitioners focus on the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures. The neurologist is often the primary physician but also serves as a consultant to other physicians and may render all levels of care, including the continuing care of outpatients and/or inpatients. The neurologist will often perform and interpret tests that relate to the nervous system or muscles. Specialty: Neurology Common Name: Neurologist Doctors in Altoona * Blair Medical Associates  Blair Medical Associates  Blair Medical Associates  Ciceron L Opida MD  Kornel Lukacs MD  Geisinger Medical Group  John P Murtha Neuroscience Center  Jan M Savit MD  Brian P Ahlstrom MD  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Geisinger Medical Group  Geisinger Medical Group  DRMC Neurology  Steven Gelfand MD  Steven Gelfand MD  Steven Gelfand MD  Lewistown Neurology Associates  Anthony J Giampolo MD  Cumberland Valley Neurosurgical Consultants  Carlos J Marrero MD  Edward L Williamson MD  Westmoreland Neurology  Jon L Vickery MD FAAN  Kamal R Rastogi MD  Avinash Aggarwal MD  Neurology Associates of Western Pennsylvania Inc  Jeffrey F Mosser MD  Greater Pittsburgh Neurology Consultants  UPMC Pain Medicine  Valley Neurology  Pittsburgh Neurology Consultants  Shah Neurology & Epilepsy LLC  PinnacleHealth Neurology Associates  PinnacleHealth Neurology Associates  PinnacleHealth Neurology Associates  PinnacleHealth Neurology Associates Altoona, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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Guillain-Barre SyndromeRead the Guillain-Barre Syndrome article » What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?Guillain-Barré syndrome (often misspelled Guillain-Barre) is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all and, when severe, the patient is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases the disorder is life threatening - potentially interfering with breathing and, at times, with blood pressure or heart rate - and is considered a medical emergency. Such a patient is often put on a respirator to assist with breathing and is watched closely for problems such as an abnormal heart beat, infections, blood clots, and high or low blood pressure. Most patients, however, recover from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, although some continue to have a certain degree of weakness. Guillain-Barré syndrome can affect anybody. It can strike at any age and both sexes are equally prone to the disorder. The syndrome is rare, however, afflicting only about one person in 100,000. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome.
What causes Guillain-Barré syndrome?No one yet knows why Guillain-Barré - which is not contagious - strikes some people and not others. Nor does anyone know exactly what sets the disease in motion. What scientists do know is that the body's immune system begins to attack the body itself, causing what is known as an autoimmune disease. Usually the cells of the immune system attack only foreign materi... Recommended Reading Related to Guillain-Barre SyndromeSwine flu (H1N1 influenza virus) facts
What is swine flu (novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu)?Swine flu (swine influenza) is a... Other Related Guillain-Barre Syndrome ArticlesEmergency Contact for Altoona
Nearby Altoona Hospitals *Altoona Regional Health System Bon Secours Hospital Campus Altoona Regional Hospital James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Altoona Rehabilitation Hospital Nason Hospital Tyrone Hospital Miners Medical Center J C Blair Memorial Hospital Windber Medical Center Crichton Rehabilitation Center Memorial Medical Center Lee Campus Good Samaritan Medical Center Memorial Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Johnstown UPMC Bedford Memorial Mount Nittany Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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