The brain is the most important organ that is the central control point for all processes in the body. Any disruption in the work of this structure will entail a number of serious and dangerous complications, which are very difficult to deal with.
In order to avoid encountering such problems, it is necessary to carry out appropriate diagnostics in the presence of alarming symptoms. Electroencephalography, a fairly common type of brain examination, occupies a high bar in the list of the most important procedures. Preparation for an EEG has a number of essential features that require special attention.
Brief introduction to EEG
This type of examination allows, through scanning, to track the activity of each part of the brain, neural impulses and, most importantly, the EEG clearly records the level of coordination of the actions of all components of the brain region (or the property of rhythm). If the central nervous system of a person is attacked by one or another ailment, the diagnosis will reveal a violation in the functioning of the organ.
The test is not particularly difficult. The patient is comfortably seated on an equipped couch in a reclining position. Specific points on the head are treated with a gel that conducts the pulses, and small electrodes are attached to the surface. When carrying out a diagnosis, a person must relax the muscles and close the eyelids.
Next, a computer program is launched, which, using sensors, registers brain activity and provides the necessary information in the form of several graphs. The procedure can take 1 hour, and in some cases the whole night under the close supervision of a doctor. The decrypted data will be received in a few days.
Despite the painlessness of the EEG, a small child may be alarmed by what is happening, so the mother should be nearby and, if necessary, calm the child
With the help of EEG it is possible to identify:
- foci of epileptic activity;
- possible causes of fainting and panic attacks;
- various pathologies in the work of the brain and the central nervous system as a whole;
- the effect of the prescribed complex of drugs on the body;
- violation of relevant functions, etc.
The procedure is considered safe and completely painless, therefore it is carried out for both adults and children.
Indications and contraindications
It is worth noting a rather wide range of anomalies, upon detection of which the doctor, with a high degree of probability, will write his patient a referral for an electroencephalogram of the brain:
- sleep disturbances such as sleepwalking and insomnia;
- the presence of mechanical injuries: bruises, fractures;
- vascular diseases of the brain;
- tumor-like formations;
- mental disorders, neurosis, nervous tic;
- chronic fainting, uncontrolled panic attacks;
- coma.
The list continues:
- the need to confirm the death of the brain;
- epileptic seizures;
- various convulsions;
- stroke;
- disruption of the endocrine system;
- autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy);
- encephalitis and meningitis;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD);
- chronic headache of various types;
- delay in mental development or speech;
- violation of vascular circulation in the region of the brain, etc.
Special contraindications have not been identified at the moment, but it is recommended to refrain from EEG for those who have various inflammations caused by infection, focal dermatosis, the presence of open wounds and other injuries in the head area, the presence of unhealed sutures imposed by surgery.
Traumatic head injuries are a contraindication to the procedure.
If a patient has pronounced neurological abnormalities in the form of a lack of control over the motor activity of his limbs, diagnosis should be carried out only under the close supervision of a qualified doctor.
EEG preparation procedure
As mentioned earlier, before conducting an encephalogram, attention should be paid to the features of the preparatory stage. There is a classic list of rules, the observance of which will lead to the most accurate result of brain research.
| Condition | The essence of the rule |
| Stopping certain drugs | It is strongly recommended to give up anticonvulsants, tranquilizers and various sedatives 2-4 days before the test - they will distort the final readings of the sensors. If the patient uses other medications, it is worth informing your doctor about this. |
| Refusal from drinks that excite the central nervous system | First of all, it is forbidden to drink Coca-Cola 1 day before the procedure (it is better to exclude all carbonated drinks), alcohol, coffee, energy drinks and tea. Consumption of chocolate is also excluded. |
| Washing head | Before the EEG, you should thoroughly wash your head and hair to ensure better contact of the sensors with the scalp surface. |
| Ban on applying cosmetics to hair | It is worth refraining from using various mousses, balms, gels, varnishes and other products intended for styling curls and giving them volume. |
| A complete meal | Before the upcoming test, you need to eat a large meal, as an empty stomach will contribute to a decrease in the patient's blood sugar. |
| Temporary abstinence from smoking | You will have to forget about the existence of cigarettes for 3-5 hours to get a more reliable research result. |
| Removing metal jewelry | Metal earrings, piercings, ear cuffs, clips and hairpins are removed before sitting on the equipped couch. |
| Putting on loose clothing | If possible, you should refrain from items of clothing that restrict movement and tight belts. You should not create a favorable environment for circulatory disorders in the body. |
| Keeping calm | At the time of the encephalogram, you need to sit as comfortably as possible on the chair, taking a comfortable and stationary position. The eyes close tightly. |
| Suppressing anxiety with appropriate machine sounds | Very often, the process is accompanied by noise of different tonality and light flashes, which make it possible to register their effect on the activity of the brain. You should not be afraid of this. |
Sometimes the patient is assigned an EEG in the dreaming phase. In this case, a prerequisite is the lack of sleep for 24-38 hours. The body should not be "slept" by the time of direct brain testing.
When a person comes for examination, the doctor will offer a special sedative drug that puts him to sleep at the time of recording his indicators.
EEG cost
If you go to a private medical center, you will most likely have to pay about 1800-4200 rubles for the session. The cost of research in public institutions is much lower - 480-1800 rubles.
An electroencephalogram of the brain is able to identify pathologies of the central nervous system, or, conversely, to exclude them. Despite the relative simplicity of diagnosis, one should not neglect the set of elementary rules for preparing for an EEG. Remember: only the correct observance of each point to the proper extent will ensure a good examination result and, as a result, will indicate a clear direction for the vector of medical therapy.
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