WHAT IS EEG?
The electroencephalogram, also known as EEG, is a test that measures electrical movements in the brain.
This test, which is measured with the help of a device, is performed by placing small metal discs (electrodes) on the scalp.
Brain cells actually give off tiny electrical impulses that can be measured even during sleep.
EEG plays a major role in diagnosing brain-related diseases.
An EEG test is performed to determine whether a person in a coma is brain dead or to evaluate drug poisoning or the extent of brain damage. In short, the test is performed to diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the brain.
Which Diseases Are Diagnosed with EEG?
EEG, taken by attaching electrodes to receive electrical signals produced by the brain, diagnoses the following diseases:
brain tumors
Brain damage due to head trauma
Epilepsy
Sleeping disorders
Encephalitis
Stroke (paralysis)
mad cow disease
Dementia (such as Alzheimer's)
The most commonly used EEG test, which can be useful for memory problems, is epilepsy.
EEG can guide the type of epilepsy, which is a disease with seizures, and what will trigger the seizures of the disease.
What are the EEG Test Types?
Routine EEG: During this EEG, you may be asked to breathe and look at the light.
Prolonged EEG: This EEG test can be used to detect and manage seizures.
Standing EEG: This EEG can last 1-3 days. Measurements are taken during your daily routine.
Video EEG: Video recording is made during shooting. This recording allows you to see what you are doing during a seizure or a brain activity.
Sleep EEG: Sleep EEG is used especially in the diagnosis of sleep disorders.
Things to Do Before EEG Recording;
Wash your hair before the EEG test. Chemical substances such as hair conditioner and gel spray can make it difficult for the electrodes to stick to the skin.
Stop consuming coffee, tea, cola and energy drinks containing caffeine 8 hours before the EEG test.
If you want a sleep EEG, it is recommended that you sleep less at night. Adults may be asked to sleep no more than 4-5 hours, and children may be asked not to sleep more than 5-7 hours.
The measurement may not be accurate due to fasting blood sugar. Don't be hungry.
Including the preparation process, these shoots can take up to 2 hours.
What Should the EEG Result Be?
EEG results are outputs where brain wave patterns are written on paper and have a doctor's interpretation. According to these data, the doctor decides on diagnosis and treatment. If necessary, diagnosis and treatment are applied through consultation.
WHAT IS EMG?
EMG or electromyography is a neurological examination method based on examining the electrical potential of nerves and striated muscles.
The medical device used in this method is called electromyograph, and the data recorded by the device is called electromyogram.
Electromyography is a compound word consisting of the words electro, neuro, myo, and graph, and means printing the electrical signals of nerves and muscles. Different tests can be applied to the patient in an EMG examination. The most commonly applied tests are "nerve conduction studies" and "needle electromyography".
In Which Situations Is EMG Done?
Polyneuropathy: Diseases that cause widespread damage to peripheral nerves, such as diabetes, B12 deficiency or kidney failure.
Myopathies: Diseases that cause damage to muscle fibers.
Motor Neuron Diseases: Diseases that cause damage to spinal cord motor nerve cells, such as polio or ALS.
Radiculopathies: Diseases that cause damage to the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord, such as lumbar or cervical disc herniation.
Focal Neuropathies: Trap neuropathies (carpal, cubital, tarsal) are diseases that usually cause damage to a single nerve.
Neuromuscular Diseases: Diseases that disrupt neuromuscular transmission, such as Myasthenia Gravis.
What to Do Before EMG Examination?
You may come to the examination with loose clothing.
Jewelry such as rings, bracelets and watches should be removed before examination.
Before coming to the examination, you should take a shower and remove any dirt from your body, and substances such as creams and lotions should not be applied to the body after the bath.
If there is any medication used, it is reported to the neurophysiologist.
If you have a pacemaker or are using blood thinners, report this to the neurophysiologist performing the examination. This does not prevent the examination from being performed, but the physician must be informed about this.
In rare cases, there may be pain and minor subcutaneous bleeding after the examination in the areas where the needle electrode is inserted. It is a completely harmless examination method. It would be beneficial if you consider that the examination will take 1 to 1.5 hours and plan to spend approximately 1.5 to 2 hours in the EMG laboratory.
