Technology helps preserve cerebral health

A poor diet and sedentary lifestyle that frequently result in cardiovascular illness can also be a time bomb for cerebral health.


And the problem can be further complicated because the symptoms can be mistaken.

For example, dizziness caused by a problem in the middle ear may resemble the dizziness that causes poor blood supply to the brain, says Dr. Charles Olivera, a neurologist with Yuma Clinic Neurological Associates.

And that's the reason for a proper diagnosis.

Since in 2009, Olivera has been providing diagnoses of poor blood circulation in the brain with the use of advanced technology know as Transcranial Ultrasound.

Olivera says the incidence of poor circulation to the brain has increased, stemming from cardiac problems the patients originally suffered.

"More and more, people with coronary illness are presented with cerebral circulation problems," he said.

The problem can lead to a stroke and other grave consequences, he said.

Olivera, a graduate of the University of Southern Florida's medical school, arrived in Yuma in 2007, joining a small list of neurologists practicing in the Yuma area.

Attracted by the sizable Hispanic community and by Yuma's comparatively slower pace, Olivera recalled, he began to note a prevalence of cardiovascular diseases here.

"Because of the diet we Hispanics have, we have a greater probability of suffering coronary problems," he said. "We eat a lot of flour and starch and fewer vegetables."

As with the blood vessels and arteries in other parts of the body, those in the brain can become restricted and blocked, preventing the free flow of blood. And without sufficient blood, oxygenation in that area can be insufficient, leading to damage to the brain tissue, he said.

The propensity of heart disease, Olivera added, has made Hispanics among the most susceptible to poor blood flow to the brain and to stroke.

Dizziness and recurring headaches can be warning signs of an imminent stroke, he said.

Persons who are experiencing dizziness, weakness or recurring numbness should be examined, he said, rather than wait for complications to set in.

For the past year, Olivera has been using Transcranial Ultrasound to measure the speed of cerebral blood flow in his patients.

"The (technology) has the advance of being a diagnostic, not invasive," he said. "It doesn't cause pain, it doesn't require special preparation for the patient and it's done in the doctor's own office."

Yuma Neurological Associates are located at 2281 W. 24th St., Suite No. 8. For more information, call (928) 783-0092.

Cesar Neyoy can be reached at cneyoy@bajoelsol.com or 539-6890.

SOURCE yumasun