Stroke

stroke-brain

Stroke

Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the fourth leading cause of death and one of the main causes of disability in the United States. About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. More than 7 million people in the United States today have survived a stroke.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel, that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain, is either blocked by a clot or rupture. When this happens part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, causing damage to these regions of the brain. The effects of a stroke depend primarily on the location of the obstruction and the extent of brain tissue affected.

Since 1970 the mortality rate from stroke in the United States has declined dramatically, largely because of improved prevention and treatment options, according to the American Heart Association.

Brain SPECT scan is a helpful tool for the management of stroke. It can help differentiate an ischemic event from peri-ictal phenomena such as Todd’s paresis. Data shows that a SPECT scan could be useful in prognosticating early stroke after an ischemic attack.

Our staff and physicians are here to help. We believe that we can offer additional strategies for understanding your brain’s current functioning through the use of SPECT imaging a functional brain imaging modality. If you have questions and would like to learn more or schedule an appointment contact us at 1-800-315-5739.