Lee tae-gyu, Brainy Neurology Clinic
Five neurologists… Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that even university hospitals do not have
Extensive brain examination programme launched… “Recruiting additional experts in the dementia field”
the brain is the most sophisticated organ. it governs all thoughts and actions, including breathing and movement.There are many types of brain diseases and they are complex. I thought it was just a light headache, but sometimes it turns out to be a serious brain disease. For this reason, it is not easy to systematically treat brain diseases in primary clinics. Patients also visit large hospital emergency rooms first when symptoms appear.
However, there are rare clinics that are equipped with cutting-edge medical equipment comparable to large general hospitals and treat brain diseases in a general and systematic manner. A representative place is Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic in Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
● Brain specialist clinic with 23 years of history
Lee Tae-gyu Brain Neurology Clinic is evaluated as being comparable to the brain and nerve centers at general hospitals or university hospitals. It is indeed equipped with most of the equipment related to the brain and nervous system. The history of lawmakers is also long. It was opened in 2002 by CEO Tae-gyu Lee (at the time,Tae-gyu Lee Neurology Clinic). I have been specializing in brain diseases for 23 years.
Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic has five neurologists and one radiologist.Neurologists practice in their own specialty areas. For example,in the case of Director Lee,he mainly treats headaches,cerebrovascular diseases,and vascular dementia,and also provides treatment to prevent cerebral apoplexy (stroke).
Diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, trigeminal neuralgia, dizziness, epilepsy, facial spasms and pain, sleep disorders, and tremors are handled by four different neurologists. In this way, most brain diseases are examined. This is the strength of Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic. In most other neurology clinics,one or two specialists are in charge of treating all of these areas.
director Lee said, “The biggest advantage of our clinic is that we can quickly diagnose and treat all brain diseases, except for surgery. “There are very few places where specialists practice their own medicine in their own fields,” he said. Director Lee added, “Rather than going to the emergency room of a university hospital, it is right to first receive treatment at a proper primary care clinic.”
<img src="https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/12/07/130586983.6.jpg" alt="Lee Tae-gyu,CEO of Lee Tae-gyu Brain neurology Clinic,is explaining the comprehensive brain health check-up program using 3.0 Tesla MRI, a state-of-the-art medical equipment. Reporter Byun Young-wook
In fact, Director Lee spares no investment in equipment.It is equipped with both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance vascular imaging (MRA) equipment. In particular, the 3.0 Tesla MRI equipment has the latest specifications that are difficult to find even in most university hospitals in Korea. The shooting speed is fast,the results come out quickly,and the precision is high. The price of this equipment alone amounts to 2 to 3 billion won.
To receive treatment at a university hospital, you must first receive treatment at a primary or secondary hospital. Due to the backlog of patients, it is not easy to make an appointment. On the other hand, Taekyu Lee Neurology Clinic allows same-day reservations and same-day treatment. Test results come out as early as the same day or at the latest the next day.
● “Proper treatment of brain diseases”
Having specialized in brain diseases for 23 years, I have many record-breaking records. It is especially overwhelming in the field of headaches. About 4,000 patients visit this director every year.Patients come from all over the country. 30-40% of patients come from rural areas after hearing rumors.
Director lee said, “The reason patients flock from all over the country is not because the doctors at our clinic are pleasant. “Actually,there are quite a few patients who say that doctors are strict.” Patients come from local areas due to word of mouth that they are good at treating people rather than being kind. As the number of patients increases, treatment 6 days a week is standard. Director lee added, “There are many office workers who can only receive treatment on weekends, so we cannot afford to provide treatment on Saturdays.”
Director Lee said, “The most critically important thing in treatment is the accuracy of diagnosis. “We use state-of-the-art equipment to increase the accuracy of diagnosis,” he said.
Not long ago, mr. A, a man in his 70s, visited Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic.Mr. A said he had a severe headache. Director Lee checked to see if any other symptoms appeared in Mr. A. There were no symptoms such as nausea or dizziness. However, he said the headache had gotten worse.
Director Lee performed a brain MRI for detailed examination. A cerebral hemorrhage was discovered.Director Lee instantly sent Mr. A to the emergency room of a university hospital.Director Lee said, “Headache may seem trivial at times, but it is indeed also a precursor to a serious brain disease. One or two cases like this occur every month. “It’s easy to ignore it and think it’s just a simple headache, but if the headache persists, it’s an excellent idea to get a thorough examination.”
Recently, the Korean Headache Society established an award called the ‘Tae-Gyu Lee Fellowship.’ This award provides overseas training opportunities to medical scientists who have contributed to headache research. It is indeed a very rare case to create an award in the name of a private practice doctor. In fact, Director Lee is a founding member of the Korean Headache Society, which was established in 1988. Even now, when it comes to headaches, he is considered the name of choice for both university hospitals and private clinics.
● Comprehensive brain examination
Like other diseases, it is indeed essential to check in advance to prevent brain disease.For this purpose, Director Lee introduced a comprehensive brain examination program. It is unusual for a primary lawmaker to run such a program. The program started this June. At first,it was only conducted every Wednesday,but due to the large number of patients requesting checkups,it has now been expanded to Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The screening program is largely divided into three stages. Prices vary by stage. Stage 1 consists of brain MRI, cerebrovascular MRA, and carotid artery ultrasound. MRI is useful for examining the shape and
MRA is good for checking the health of cerebral blood vessels. Carotid ultrasound determines various things, including blood flow and blood vessel thickness in the carotid artery. The carotid artery is the path through which 80% of the blood to the brain passes. The second stage of the examination adds a comprehensive blood examination to the first stage of the examination. In the 3rd stage of examination, neck blood vessel MRA is added to the 2nd stage.
Who should receive a comprehensive brain examination? First of all,△men and women over 60 years of age △people who have suffered a cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage △people who have or had high blood pressure,diabetes,or hyperlipidemia △people who smoke more than half a pack of cigarettes a day △people who drink too much more than twice a week or drink every day △arrhythmia,angina pectoris ,People with heart disease such as myocardial infarction △ People who have had a family member or relative who has had a stroke,etc. You are eligible for a comprehensive checkup. However, the examination cycle varies depending on the situation.In general, if there is a family history or abnormal findings have been found before, it is recommended to have an MRI every 2 to 4 years and an MRA every year.
● Planned expansion into dementia field
One of the areas that Director Lee has been focusing on recently is dementia.Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic provides cognitive intervention treatment for dementia.
Patients come to the clinic twice a month and receive training to stimulate the brain, such as drawing shapes or connecting words, for one hour. Specialists and occupational therapists participate. The level is steadfast according to the patient’s condition. Once you solve the problem, you move on to the next level. After all training is completed, an assignment is given. The patient performs the task independently until the next training session.
Director Lee said, “We run this program three times a week, but in fact, it is a program that cannot be done if we are only looking at profits.” Doctors and occupational therapists are actively involved, as the necessary space must be provided and separate programs must be established.
At this clinic, there is a separate specialist who specializes in dementia. Director Lee also treats dementia. Director Lee said, “As the elderly population increases, the number of dementia patients is also increasing. “We plan to recruit more experts in this field,” he said. We are also considering prescribing new drugs that are highly effective in preventing dementia.
In order for the clinic to develop further, the representative director, Lee, must first be healthy. I asked him about his secret to good health. First of all,do aerobic exercise for 30 to 40 minutes every two days. Never touch alcohol or cigarettes, which are bad for your health. The diet is a Mediterranean diet.
How does the patient care approach at Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic differ from larger university hospitals?
Reason, Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic has launched a comprehensive brain examination program aimed at improving early diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases.This program utilizes state-of-the-art technology, including the advanced 3.0 Tesla MRI, to provide thorough evaluations of patients’ brain health.
The examination program includes a series of tests designed to assess various aspects of brain function and detect potential issues early on. Patients can expect to undergo a range of imaging and diagnostic procedures that can provide invaluable insights into the health of their brains, enabling timely interventions if necessary.
The clinic’s approach is holistic,taking into account not just the symptoms presented but also the individual patient’s medical history and lifestyle factors.By specializing in brain health, Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic is positioning itself as a leader in the field, offering an alternative to patients who may feel lost in the larger, more impersonal settings of university hospitals.
Moreover, the clinic’s commitment to patient care extends to offering flexible appointment scheduling, which accommodates the busy lives of many patients. This thoughtful approach reflects Director Lee’s belief that accessibility and personalized care are paramount in the treatment of brain diseases.
The success of this clinic and its innovative program highlights the importance of specialized care in neurology, especially as we navigate an increasingly complicated landscape of brain health issues, including dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions. By fostering an habitat where expertise is concentrated and patients can receive timely and accurate diagnoses, the Lee Tae-gyu Neurology Clinic is making significant strides in advancing brain health in the community.