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If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your body struggles to correctly metabolize sugars, leading to irregularities in your blood sugar. Diabetes problems originate in your pancreas, the abdominal organ that produces the chemical insulin, necessary for digesting and processing sugars. However, diabetes can impact other parts of your body, as well.

Among the potential long-term consequences of diabetes are conditions like cardiac autonomic neuropathy. When you have autonomic neuropathy, the nerves that manage your involuntary bodily functions stop working correctly. You can experience difficult symptoms with your bladder, digestion, body temperature regulation, and blood pressure.

When dealing with a condition like cardiac autonomic neuropathy, make sure you’re receiving the best care and guidance. At the Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography, we provide you with an accurate diagnosis, and can work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to address your symptoms and resolve them for good. Our team, led by Habib Khan, MD, supports new and existing patients with a variety of vascular disorders, as well as patients with diabetes.

Symptoms of cardiac autonomic neuropathy

Your blood nourishes and supports organs throughout your body, including crucial areas like your heart and autonomic nervous system. In cases of advanced diabetes, systems in your body progressively lose function.

If the nerves that connect your autonomic nervous system to your brain sustain too much damage, the neurological signals that regulate your heart, sweat glands, and blood vessels don’t properly transmit. You may experience symptoms including:

• Hidden symptoms from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Dizziness and fainting when you stand up
• Sweating too much, too little, or struggling to regulate your body temperature
• Urinary issues like incontinence, or struggling to start urination
• Sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction in men and abnormal vaginal dryness in women

What we can do

Both before and after your cardiac autonomic neuropathy diagnosis, you can take steps to improve your condition. Your diabetes may be controllable through medications and lifestyle changes, including dietary monitoring and, potentially, weight loss.

The Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography team recommends increased screening for autonomic neuropathy for diabetes patients. If you have type 2 diabetes, we typically recommend screening every year after you receive your diagnosis. If you have type 1 diabetes, you should be tested annually starting five years after you are first diagnosed.

It’s important to get prompt treatment for your cardiac autonomic neuropathy, as this condition can threaten your life. If you’re concerned about cardiac autonomic neuropathy symptoms, or are struggling with neurological problems related to uncontrolled diabetes, get in touch with the experts at Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography today. You can schedule your initial consultation appointment by calling our Casa Grande, Arizona offices, or request an appointment with the online tool.

If you have gait or balance issues, it might seem obvious to put the blame on your legs, ankles, knees, or hips. However, the source of the issue could be neurological, concerned with functionality in your brain. You may need the care and attention of an expert neurology team to correctly diagnose and address your gait-related concerns.

At Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography, Habib Khan, MD, leads a careful and compassionate team that is ready and able to help. We treat new and existing patients from around the Casa Grande, Arizona, area. Here’s what we want you to know about the complex connection between your balance, your movement, and your brain.

The complex teamwork of walking

We use the word “gait” to refer to the complex set of processes that have to be put in motion for you to walk normally and evenly. Walking might seem like a simple thing, but you may be surprised at how many elements of your body have to work together to keep you in balanced motion.

Your gait involves parts of your body including your sensory organs, like your ears and eyes, as well as your muscles. Your brain and sensory nerves organize all of the information you need to know about the environment around you. Your brain and motor nerves then govern the motion of your muscles and limbs.

To take even just a few steps, all of these elements need to function seamlessly. If you have an underlying condition causing you to feel unstable when standing and walking, you could risk a bad fall or other injury. Your pain and inflammation levels may also worsen over time, if your condition is not diagnosed and treated.

Gait disorders and your brain

If you have gait and balance problems, you likely experience unsteadiness and trouble walking. You might also have trouble with dizziness or lightheadedness or struggle with motion sickness or vertigo. In some cases, you might experience muscle weakness in one or both of your legs or numbness in your legs or feet.

Symptoms relating to gait and balance problems are associated with several specific conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and brain tumors. Gait disorders can also appear as a result of a stroke. Once we determine the cause of your condition, we can advise you about your chances of full recovery, and recommend the best course of treatment for your unique health care needs.

In order to correctly identify the potential neurological cause of your gait problems, the Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography team starts with a complete physical and neurological exam. We can also use performance testing and sensory testing to confirm your diagnosis. We may use an MRI or CT scan to examine your spine or brain structure or order blood tests.

To get started evaluating your neurological symptoms of gait and balance disruption, contact the Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography today. You can schedule your initial consultation appointment by calling our office, or with the online tool.

Epilepsy and other seizure disorders disrupt your life, causing difficult symptoms and making your day-to-day life a real challenge. That’s why the professionals at Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography are so focused on effectively treating your epilepsy or other seizure disorder. Under the leadership of expert Habib Khan, MD, our team of dedicated professionals offers a range of treatments for your epilepsy, including several types of surgical treatment.

So, are you a good candidate for epilepsy surgery? Dr. Khan successfully treats hundreds of epilepsy patients each year through surgical intervention. Here’s what Dr. Khan wants his new and existing patients to know about their options for seizure disorder treatment.

Symptoms of a seizure disorder

Several medical conditions, including epilepsy, can cause you to experience seizures. When you have epilepsy or another seizure disorder, the normal electrical activity of your brain sometimes goes haywire, causing misfires and resulting in alarming symptoms.

During a seizure, you may lose consciousness or behave erratically, moving uncontrollably. Some types of seizures, on the other hand, leave you unresponsive for an interval of time, or cause repetitious unconscious movements.

Either way, the symptoms of your seizure disorder can become extremely disruptive to your life. Unpredictable attacks can get so bad, you may feel afraid just leaving your home. Epilepsy and other seizure disorders can impact your ability to hold a job, or even live independently.

A single seizure may not indicate a seizure disorder. Patients with seizure disorders have typically experienced at least two seizures without other clear cause, like low blood sugar or another medical condition.

Treatment options for your seizures

With professional medical care, you can take control of your epilepsy. The right treatment may ultimately allow you to live completely seizure free.

Dr. Khan typically begins with conservative treatment options like anti-seizure medications or dietary changes. If your symptoms don’t respond, surgical treatment may be called for. Dr. Khan works with a team of specialists to tailor your care plan to your unique needs.

Several types of surgical intervention can benefit patients with seizures. These range from minimally invasive procedures, like laser interstitial thermal therapy, to procedures involving a full craniotomy (opening of your skull). If your brain abnormality can be clearly diagnosed and identified as the cause of your seizures, you have the best chances of effective results with surgical treatment.

Potential surgical solutions

Surgical procedures to address epilepsy and seizures target the area of your brain involved in misfire activity. These include a focal resection, a temporal lobe resection, or an extratemporal resection. We can also remove damaged and misfiring parts of your brain, as in a corpus callosotomy or a hemispherectomy.

Many patients can also benefit from surgically implanted neurostimulation devices. You could see positive results with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS), or deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Could you be a good candidate for epilepsy surgery?

Patients who benefit from surgical treatment tend to have conditions that can’t be controlled with medication, who would like to have more control over their epilepsy symptoms. Patients of any age can benefit from surgical treatment approaches. Some patients need to combine surgical treatment with an ongoing medication regimen.

To find out how epilepsy surgery could improve your life and control your symptoms, get in touch with the experts at Arizona Institute of Neurology & Polysomnography today. You can schedule an appointment by giving us a call at our Casa Grande, Arizona office, or book with the online tool.

If you’re a sufferer of pain in your joints or muscles, you may also be experiencing headache pain. You may pass that off as unrelated, thinking that it’s to do with your stress, your job, or something else. But it’s also quite likely that your headaches have been triggered by the pain you are suffering. One reason may be indirect, such as getting a headache from not sleeping well due to your joint or muscle pain. It may also be a direct link that is causing your headache.

Causes of Headaches

Depending on where your pain is located, it’s likely connected to the headaches you’re having. For example, back pain sufferers may experience headaches of varying severity because of the stress the pain is placing on the spinal cord and the nerves that snake up and down the spine. Neck muscles that are strained can cause tension leading to the big, heavy object balanced on top of the neck: your head. Aim to have good back posture to reduce the strain on your neck and your muscles, which can help to reduce your headaches.

If you are suffering from pain anywhere in your body, you likely have a very high sensitivity to pain. Scientists have found evidence suggesting that people with high pain sensitivity are likely to have tension headaches, which are mild to moderate in terms of pain. These headaches are also often linked to increased muscle tenderness, which only compounds the overall pain you experience.

Solutions to Relieve Your Headache Pain

There are no cure-all solutions to these types of headaches, but one recommendation is to treat the underlying pain and its causes. Improving your lifestyle to reduce any strain on your body, sleeping well, and eating right can make a huge difference, as well as visiting a doctor to help relieve your pain in the long run.

At the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography, treatment for your headaches begins with a thorough evaluation that helps identify the underlying cause of your pain. This may include nerve conduction studies, radiographic imaging such as MRI or CT scan, and other diagnostic tests.

Dr. Khan can create individualized treatment strategies that are tailored to your specific needs and help ensure the best possible results. Schedule your appointment today for relief from your headaches.

Sleep deprivation can be a very frustrating and exhausting experience. It can seem that no matter what you do or how hard you try, your brain and body refuse to fall asleep. This can leave you feeling drained throughout the day, fogging your judgment and hindering your motivation to get out and live life. It is estimated that around 50% of adults will experience some form of sleep disorder or deprivation.

Dr.Habib Khan and his team of specialists at the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography help patients suffering from a range of sleep deprivation symptoms and sleep disorders. Each patient is unique and as such, the recommendation for how you can get better, more substantial sleep will vary. There’s a lot you can do to help yourself or a loved one enjoy better sleep, we have included some of the most effective methods below!

6 Tips to Combat Against Sleep Disorder

Avoid Heavy Meals Before Bed

While big meals can sometimes make people feel sluggish or lethargic, they can also seriously disrupt your sleep patterns. After eating a large meal, your gastrointestinal tract begins working to digest and move food through your system. There are a range of muscles required for this process and their contractions can keep you awake and restless.

Dark, Quiet, Cold

When sleep is an issue, the smallest distractions can leave you tossing and turning. If you sleep in an area where there is ambient lighting like a TV or computer, emitting lights, and sounds, try removing them or sleeping in another room! The optimal environment for healthy sleep is completely dark, silent, and below room temperature. This prevents distractions from disrupting your sleep cycle.

Weight Loss/ Diet

Being overweight or obese can influence the quality of your sleep. This mainly occurs due to difficulty breathing. The added weight around your neck and chest can impede your ability to breathe properly and lead to conditions such as sleep apnea. By losing a healthy amount of weight, your airways will experience less obstruction and you will be able to sleep and breathe easier.

Consistent Sleep Routine

You can train your body over time with consistent routines. If are in bed and try to fall asleep at 10 pm every night, your body will grow accustomed to this pattern and will begin to wind down in anticipation of sleep. Irregular sleep habits can confuse the body and lead to restlessness.

Exercise Regularly

Physical exercise has a list of benefits that are almost too long to mention. One of the benefits of exercise is that it encourages deeper and more reliable sleep. Exercise is an excellent stress reliever, hormone regulator, and often uses up an abundant amount of energy. This energy use will help you fall asleep when the time comes. Your mind will be calm and your body will be tired. Studies suggest that routine exercise could be the most promising non-pharmacological way to encourage more effective sleep!

For more information, visit our sleep disorder page here!

Consult With A Specialist About Your Sleep Disorder

If you have seemingly tried everything and have had no success, you may require professional intervention to get a healthy night’s sleep. The team of experts at the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography specializes in sleep disorders such as

• Sleep apnea, which causes abnormal patterns or pauses in breathing as you sleep
• Insomnia, which may become long-term and make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS), is a sleep movement disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in your legs and the urge to move your legs as you fall asleep
• Narcolepsy, which causes extreme sleepiness during the day and may cause you to fall asleep suddenly when performing routine daily activities

Dr.Habib Khan might recommend a non-invasive sleep study, during which an electroencephalogram (EEG) is worn on your head while you sleep, tracking signals in the brain. It can give greater insight into how your brain functions during sleep periods. Based on the results of the test, Dr.Khan will draft a treatment plan that is unique designed to help manage your sleep disorder symptoms, so you can sleep peacefully.

Sleep Disorder Treatment Available in Casa Grande, Arizona!

If you would like to learn more about treatments for sleep disorders or would like to take the first step towards a good night’s sleep, reach out to the team at the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography today. Call our offices or schedule a consultation online!

Rather than a specific disease, dementia describes a group of symptoms that may affect your memory, cognitive function, and social abilities. These changes can drastically affect your quality of life as the disease progresses and mean you may require constant care. As with any condition, early detection and preventative measures can make a world of difference in mitigating or delaying the onset of symptoms.

Dr. Habib Khan of the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography specializes in the diagnosis and management of dementia and its related symptoms. With decades of neurology-based experience, Dr.Khan will isolate the specific causes of your condition and recommend a therapy plan that is best suited to your needs and goals. That being said, there are types of dementia that respond better than others to therapeutic interventions.

What are the Symptoms of Dementia?

Dementia symptoms vary by individual and can depend on the cause but often include:

• Changes in your ability to acquire or retain knowledge
• Memory loss
• Difficulty communicating or finding words
• Problems planning, organizing, or handling complex tasks
• Decreased coordination
• Confusion and disorientation

Types of Dementia That Respond Well To Early Therapy

Alzheimer’s Disease

The most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, accounts for 70-80% of dementia cases according to the NIH. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, meaning dementia-related symptoms gradually worsen over the span of years. Initially, you may experience mild memory loss, eventually losing the ability to hold a conversation and respond to their surroundings.

Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy body dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s. Lewy bodies are small deposits of protein that can form inside nerve cells in the brain. These deposits interrupt neurological function involved in thought processes, memory, and motor function. This condition causes a progressive decline in mental capabilities, while also experiencing hallucinations and attention deficits. Other side effects include symptoms similar to Parkinson’s such as rigid muscles, slow movement, and tremors.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is a general condition that is attributed to problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory, and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to your brain.

A stroke suffered due to blockages in an artery in your brain can lead to vascular dementia, but strokes don’t always cause vascular dementia. The effects of a stroke depend on the location of the brain that was deprived of blood flow. Vascular dementia can develop due to reduced circulation or damaged blood vessels that emulate similar side effects as a stroke.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s dementia is thought to be related to Lewy bodies. Most people with Parkinson’s develop dementia as a progression of their Parkinson’s disease, rather than having both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. There are some overlapping symptoms, but in general, Alzheimer’s affects language and memory, while Parkinson’s affects problem-solving (executive function), cognitive functions, as well as motor function.

Managing Symptoms of Dementia

Early diagnosis and intervention is important. Dr. Khan’s unique approach to degenerative brain disorders has enabled hundreds of families to take care of their loved ones at home. His philosophy to be proactive and preventive at the same time not only has helped patients remain functional, but has also helped families emotionally and financially. Functional patients can easily be managed at home. It saves family’s time and money and keeps them emotionally intact. Contrary to that, even in the best nursing homes or assisted living facilities patients go downhill very quickly.

Unfortunately, at this time there is no cure for the various forms of dementia. However, there is a range of therapeutic interventions and symptom management methods to alleviate and delay the onset of associated symptoms.

Medications

This form of intervention will vary depending on a variety of factors that may be influencing your condition. Medication can help restore memory function, judgment, and other cognitive functions. Other medications can be prescribed to handle secondary symptoms like sleep disorders, depression, and many more.

Counseling/Therapy

Adjusting to the changes brought on by dementia and its symptoms can be incredibly challenging to handle on your own. This makes things like occupational therapy and management of your living space critical aspects to dementia therapy plans. Ensuring that your living space is free of hazards and is kept in healthy living conditions can greatly improve your day-to-day life.

You will also need to adjust your expectations for how efficiently you can perform tasks. You will need to learn to break big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Dr.Habib Khan is a strong advocate for treatment occurring under a positive mental state. We want to help you view the management of your condition in a positive and constructive light. Never underestimate the power of the human mind and how it can affect the human body!

Dementia Management Therapy Available in Casa Grande, Arizona

If you or a loved one is experiencing the early onset of dementia-related symptoms, reach out to the specialists at the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography at your earliest convenience. After your condition has been diagnosed, our team can begin crafting a specialized treatment plan that directly reflects the progression of your condition. This ensures you receive care that is tailored to your current needs, offering you the greatest opportunity to retain your quality of life!

Most people don’t give balance much thought, and why would they? When everything is working as it should, a balance rarely becomes an issue. The average person doesn’t perform tasks on a daily basis that tests their balance, or do they? If you ask someone with a balance disorder, they may disagree, stating that even simple tasks like walking or standing require constant balance. Balance disorders and dizziness lead to as many as 10 million ambulatory care visits each year.

Dr. Habib Khan, lead Neurologist at the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography, specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with a range of balance disorders. His unique approach to treatment is back by years of dedicated research and firsthand experience. He understands that each patient has a unique condition that requires an equally unique treatment strategy. Let Dr. Khan provide his expert diagnosis and help restore your natural balance!

Where Does our Sense of Balance Come From?

Balance is a very complex sense that requires many of our major senses to work together and actively communicate with one another. The vestibular system, located in the ear, contains a series of direction tubes with fluid in them. As your head or body orientation changes, the fluid moves and interacts with small hairs, which send this directional information to the brain to be translated as position.

While this information is being received, our brain is actively judging spatial awareness with our eyes, and providing the appropriate muscular and nervous response needed to hold this upright position, or adapt as your balance is tested. Therefore, if one of these systems becomes compromised, you can begin to suffer from a balance disorder. Imagine standing upright, but your vestibular system is sending signals that you are leaning or spinning.

Balance Disorders and Chronic Dizziness

In some cases, temporary balance disorders arise due to ear infections or other underlying condition that’s easily treated. Other potential causes may require more extensive treatment and specialized therapy to help you regain your sense of steadiness. These include:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – which is the most common cause of vertigo and occurs when calcium crystals in your inner ear that help control your balance move from their normal positions
• Neuromuscular Disorders – such as diabetic neuropathy, that inhibit nerve function
• Vestibular Neuritis – an inflammatory disorder believed to be caused by a virus affecting the nerves in the balance portion of your inner ear
• Stroke or other cardiovascular problems

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is not a condition, rather it is a symptom. Certain movements or actions can induce temporary feelings of vertigo, which are described as head-spinning or the odd sensation of feeling like the environment around you is moving even when you are standing still.

Vertigo is often wrongly associated with a fear of heights, known as acrophobia, which can cause people to experience bouts of dizziness when standing, near, or looking down from a high ledge.

Why Diagnosing Balance Disorders is Important?

Having your condition diagnosed can provide benefits that range from mild to life-saving. For some people, getting an accurate diagnosis offers the potential to have their balance disorder treated and restore their quality of life as no longer have to live with mild symptoms.

For those with moderate to severe symptoms, diagnosis and treatment could potentially be life-saving. Balance disorders can be unpredictable and episodes of extreme dizziness can develop without warning. If you are in a vulnerable location or performing a task that requires balance and coordination, you could be at risk of an accident that leads to injury or death.

Whether your condition is mild or severe, you deserve to have confidence in your balance system and not live in fear or anxiety of when your next episode might hit you.

What Treatment Options Exist for Balance Disorders?

As mentioned above, Dr. Khan and his team offer treatment protocols that are uniquely designed for each patient’s needs. After receiving an accurate diagnosis, one or more of the following treatment methods will be implemented:

• Vestibular rehabilitation – balance retraining exercises that use your visual/spatial senses to rewire and process information from the vestibular system.
• Canalith Repositioning Procedure – guided head movements for BPPV that repositions calcium particles in your ear
• Medication – control dizziness, nausea, and vomiting

If you’re experiencing bouts of dizziness or other issues with balance, make an appointment today with Dr. Khan.

Balance Disorder Treatment Available in Casa Grande, Arizona

If you or a loved one are experiencing persistent balance concerns, dizziness, or vertigo, reach out to the specialists at the Arizona Institute of Neurology and Polysomnography for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan! Call our offices to speak with a representative from our team or schedule an appointment online today!

The body is a collection of connected systems. They are both connected to one another vitally, yet they are independent. Issues occur when these systems stop correctly communicating with one another. When your muscular system gets disconnected from the nervous system, which is responsible for your muscles moving properly, then you can have all sorts of issues that negatively affect life quality.

This article will cover some basic information about neuromuscular disorders, and what kind of treatments you can expect to get for one.

What Are Neuromuscular Disorders?

As was described above, a neuromuscular disorder occurs when your muscular and neural systems are no longer communicating. They can affect a part of your body or just a specific muscle.

Some common neuromuscular disorders are:

• Small Fiber Neuropathy: This disorder affects the nerve endings of your skin.
• Diabetic Neuropathy: This is nerve damage in your muscles caused by diabetes.
• Myasthenia Gravis: This disorder affects how your nerves communicate with your muscles.
• Hereditary Issues: There are many, but a common disorder is muscular dystrophy.
• Automatic Neuropathies: This disorder affects the nerves that control your heart, blood pressure, body temperature, and digestion.
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, this disorder affects your motor neurons that control voluntary muscle activities.

If you think you’re developing a neuromuscular disorder because of your preexisting diabetes, or you have an undiagnosed condition, you should get in contact with a neurologist. A specialist can help identify where your muscular issues are stemming from, and help you treat them.

Symptoms of Neuromuscular Disorders

You may not know if you’re suffering from a neuromuscular disorder. Symptoms vary from person to person and from changes based on where your injury is. Some common symptoms include:

• Trouble breathing
• Trouble balancing
• General issues moving
• Tingling or numbness
• Burning pain, often in hands or feet
• Muscle cramps, aches, pains, twitching
• Droopy eyelids
• Blurred or double vision
• Trouble swallowing

You may have different symptoms; however, all neuromuscular disorders are serious and should be a cause for concern. Eventually, a neuromuscular disorder may develop so that you have difficultly digesting food, walking, or breathing. Getting in contact with a doctor when your symptoms begin can help prevent further issues.

Treatments for Neuromuscular Disorders

Often, the treatment for neuromuscular disorders is a combination of medications, physical and occupational therapy. This combination will help improve your overall quality of life, help relieve pain, and delay the progression of the degenerative disease. To see if you have a neuromuscular disorder or some other issues, you may have to take blood tests or have an MRI scan.

Boosting certain vitamins may also help improve your condition, so you may be instructed to change your diet. Especially if you have diabetes.

Finding Solutions

When you have a severe or mild disability caused by a neuromuscular disorder, you want to get it treated effectively. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about treatment options, please contact us today to schedule your evaluation with Dr. Habib Khan.