By Alicia Wanek
At Good Life Family, we often recognize many of our readers as members of the “sandwich generation,” juggling the responsibilities of caring for both their growing children and aging parents. Typically, resources for these two groups differ significantly. However, when it comes to brain imaging, Envision Imaging addresses the needs of all age groups. Whether you’re worried that your child has suffered a concussion during sports or concerned that your parent may have experienced a stroke, Envision Imaging provides advanced imaging technologies for a variety of diagnoses.
For Your Teens:
Most parents have experienced that moment of uncertainty: “Should I take my child for an X-ray?” after seeing them get hurt but unsure of the seriousness of the situation. Ultimately, having your child’s injury examined with the appropriate imaging technique can provide peace of mind, confirming whether they are OK or guiding you on how to proceed with treatment.
Children often sustain injuries while engaging in sports or outdoor activities.
High school athletes are estimated to account for 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations annually.
Injury is an inherent risk in any sport. While team sports often come to mind, individual sports like equestrian activities or even golf carry risks as well. Envision Imaging, with locations throughout North Texas, now offers a specialized athletic imaging hotline for Physicians and Athletic Trainers to facilitate the care of athletes. Appointments are available on Saturdays and Sundays. Quick diagnosis through radiologic imaging can enable young athletes to return to their activities sooner, as medical professionals gain clarity on the nature of the injury.
If concerns extend beyond a simple broken arm, Envision’s centers offer sophisticated radiologic procedures that can detect less visible injuries, including brain damage. Concussion awareness has increased significantly in recent years, and advancements in radiology have improved diagnosis capabilities. Neurologist Dr. Ralph Lilly notes, “The brain consists of numerous microscopic neuronal connections, making damage to the brain’s tiniest components difficult or impossible to detect on standard MRI and CT scans.” Envision’s Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) enhances traditional MRI by evaluating differences in adjacent tissue for improved detection of microbleeds, while their Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) assesses the structural integrity of nerve pathways. Should there be concerns about severe traumatic brain injuries, they can even evaluate blood flow in specific brain regions, offering medical staff a comprehensive view of the patient’s brain condition. If only they could decode what goes on in a teenager’s mind!
For Your Parents:
Caring for aging parents is a privilege, but it also brings substantial responsibility. Ideally, you’ll have more quality time together, yet as they and all of us age, we become more susceptible to health issues, falls, strokes, and dementia. Bestselling author Elizabeth Lesser puts it aptly: “It’s like you trade the virility of the body for the agility of the spirit.” When you notice changes in your parents’ physical abilities or cognitive functions, you might question whether it’s a cause for alarm or simply a part of the natural aging process. The team at Envision Radiology can assist you in finding answers.
Today’s radiology field extends well beyond traditional X-rays and CT scans, even though these methods continue to be essential for diagnosing various conditions. Utilizing advanced methodologies and state-of-the-art equipment, Envision’s specialists can gain a clearer understanding of what’s happening in your aging parent’s brain. Radiologists can complement standard MRI scans with Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis. Their NeuroQuant imaging can assess neurodegeneration and evaluate 47 distinct brain structures. Symptoms may also call for Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to gauge the severity of strokes and delineate between different types of strokes a patient may have encountered. Regardless of how diseases manifest, Envision will strive to uncover the underlying cause.
Watching your parent’s physical decline is hard enough; what if you are worried about cognitive impairment?
Although diagnosing Alzheimer’s or other dementias necessitates a thorough review of a patient’s medical history and the exclusion of other contributing factors, cutting-edge imaging techniques are making these conditions easier to identify. Dr. Lon White, in a press release from the American Academy of Neurology, stated, “Diagnosing specific dementias…can be complex, but with the projected increase in dementia cases over the next decade in the U.S., it’s crucial to recognize, diagnose, prevent, and treat age-related cognitive decline.” Envision’s SWI and NeuroQuant imaging play significant roles in identifying these cognitive impairments.
Regardless of the diagnosis, early detection and treatment initiation are key to improving prognosis. Since you know your parents best, you are likely the first to notice when something seems off. Now it’s your turn to care for the individuals who once cared for you. Ensuring they receive the appropriate diagnosis is an excellent starting point.
