When your healthcare provider suggests a CT scan after you’ve experienced symptoms of a stroke, it means they want to take some detailed pictures of your head and brain, just so they can understand what may be causing your symptoms.
The highly detailed images from a CT scan give your provider a clear view of your brain, so they can identify any potential issues that could be causing your symptoms, and provide you with the best possible care.
In this article, we’ll show you why your provider recommended a head CT for stroke symptoms, as well as how a CT scan helps to diagnose stroke, and how it can help with recovery. We’ll take you through everything, step by step.
What does a head CT scan do?
A head CT scan is designed to capture detailed images of the brain and the blood vessels within it. This type of scan is incredibly effective at showing the different parts of your brain in high detail, allowing your healthcare provider to see if there are any abnormalities, such as bleeding, blockages, or other issues that might indicate a stroke. These images help your provider assess the extent of any damage, and to pinpoint the exact area that might be affected, which is crucial for determining the right treatment.
How does a CT scan help to diagnose stroke?
A CT scan is helpful for diagnosing a stroke because it helps your healthcare provider determine the type of stroke you may have experienced. Strokes can occur due to different underlying causes, and each different type of stroke requires a different approach to treatment, and a CT scan lets them choose the best course of action for your care.
What should I expect during a head CT? How long does it take?
During a head CT, you will typically lie still on a table that slides into a large, doughnut-shaped machine. All you have to do is lie as still as possible. The machine will take many images of your brain, and while the scan is happening you may hear some whirring or clicking sounds, which is completely normal. The entire scan takes just a few minutes, depending on your provider’s order and your condition. After the scan, our radiologists will review the images and provide a detailed report to your provider. Your provider will discuss the next steps with you.
Identifying types of strokes with a CT scan
When it comes to diagnosing a stroke, knowing the specific type of stroke is crucial for your healthcare provider to determine the best approach to treatment. A head CT scan is one of the most effective tools your healthcare provider can use to identify the type of stroke you may have experienced. We’ll look at the different types of strokes and how a CT scan helps distinguish between them.
What are the different types of strokes?
Strokes generally fall into two main categories: ischemic and hemorrhagic. On the one hand, an ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, cutting off the blood supply to certain areas. This is the most common type of stroke.
On the other hand, a hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, leading to bleeding within or around the brain. Each type of stroke affects the brain differently, and requires a different approach to treatment.
How does a CT scan tell the difference between an ischemic stroke and a hemorrhagic stroke?
A CT scan is particularly useful because it can quickly and accurately show whether there’s bleeding in the brain, or if a blockage has occurred. If there’s bleeding, it indicates a hemorrhagic stroke, whereas if there’s a blockage or lack of blood flow in a specific area, it points to an ischemic stroke. A CT scan helps your provider make this distinction very quickly and efficiently.
Why is it important to differentiate between these types of strokes?
Differentiating between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes is vital because each type requires a very different treatment plan. Misidentifying the type of stroke could lead to ineffective treatment, which could potentially worsen the condition. That’s why it’s so important for your provider to use a CT scan to differentiate between the types of strokes.
Assessing the location and severity of a stroke
When your healthcare provider recommends a CT scan for stroke, one of the key reasons is to assess the severity and location of the stroke in your brain which is important for planning the next steps for your care. We’ll help you understand how a CT scan helps your provider find where your stroke may have happened, and how bad the damage may be.
How does a head CT scan find the location of the stroke in the brain?
A head CT scan captures cross-sectional views, which look kind of like slices, and show different layers of your brain in great detail. This helps your provider to identify the specific area where blood flow has been interrupted, or where bleeding has occurred. Knowing the location is essential, because different parts of the brain control different functions, and the area affected by the stroke will influence the symptoms you experience.
How can a CT scan assess how severe a stroke is?
In addition to locating the stroke, a CT scan also helps determine its severity. The images produced by the scan can show how much of the brain tissue is affected by the stroke. For an ischemic stroke, the scan can reveal the size of the area that is not receiving enough blood. And for a hemorrhagic stroke, the scan can show the amount of bleeding, and how much pressure is being exerted on surrounding brain tissue. This information is vital for understanding how serious a stroke is.
How does the severity and the location of a stroke help my provider to plan a treatment?
The location of the stroke helps determine which functions of your body may be affected, such as speech, movement, or memory. The severity of the stroke indicates how much damage has occurred, and what interventions are needed. Using this information, your provider can tailor a treatment plan that addresses your specific needs, helping to maximize your recovery and your overall outcome.
Monitoring your condition, and planning for your recovery
After experiencing a stroke, monitoring your condition closely is essential to ensuring that you’re on the path to recovery. A head CT scan is a valuable tool in this process, helping your healthcare provider to track your progress, and to make informed decisions about your ongoing care. We’ll show you how a head CT can help during your recovery.
How does a head CT help monitor the progress of stroke recovery?
After an initial stroke, your healthcare provider may recommend follow-up scans to see how your brain is healing. These scans can reveal how the affected area of your brain is recovering, if there’s any further damage, and if new issues have arisen. By comparing these images with earlier scans, your provider can assess whether the treatments are working, and make adjustments as needed.
How can a CT scan help to plan rehabilitation after a stroke?
The information from a CT scan provides a detailed look at the areas of your brain that have been affected, which helps your healthcare provider understand how to plan your recovery. The insights gained from the scan ensure that your rehabilitation is tailored to your specific needs, which can help maximize your chances of recovery, and help maintain your quality of life.
How will the info from a head CT scan guide my long-term care?
Long-term care planning after a stroke is vital for maintaining your health and preventing future complications. The information from your head CT scan provides a roadmap for this planning. This might include regular monitoring, medications to manage risk factors, lifestyle changes, and ongoing therapy. The detailed insights from your CT scan help ensure that your long-term care is proactive, reducing the risk of further strokes, and helping you maintain your health as you recover.
How to schedule your CT appointment with us
Touchstone Medical Imaging offers CT scans in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Reach out to us at Touchstone, and we’ll help you schedule an CT appointment at an imaging center near you, today.
We’re here to help you get the answers you need.
FAQs
A head CT scan provides detailed images of your brain to help your provider identify potential issues that could be causing your stroke symptoms.
A CT scan helps determine the type of stroke by showing whether there’s bleeding or a blockage in your brain, and guides the appropriate treatment.
During a head CT scan, you will lie still on a table while the CT machine captures images of your brain, a process that typically takes just a few minutes.
A CT scan can quickly show whether a stroke is ischemic (due to a blockage) or hemorrhagic (due to bleeding), which is crucial for determining the right treatment.
Identifying the type of stroke is vital because each type requires a different treatment approach, and because misidentification could provide less effective care.
A head CT scan captures detailed cross-sectional images that allow your provider to pinpoint the exact location of the stroke in your brain.
Yes, a CT scan can show the extent of brain tissue affected by the stroke, helping to determine how severe the stroke is.
A head CT scan helps monitor your brain’s recovery, guiding rehabilitation and long-term care, ensuring that your treatment is tailored to your needs.