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Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Neurology (Brain & Spinal Cord Disease)
Medical College of Wisconsin (2013)
Professional interests include: stroke, epilepsy, headache, and more.
10 George Street Suite 300
Lowell, MA 01852

Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD is a neurologist in Lowell, MA specializing in neurology (brain & spinal cord disease). She graduated from Medical College of Wisconsin in 2013 and has 13 years of experience. Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD is affiliated with Tufts Medicine and LGH MEDICAL GROUP, INC.

View Doctor's Full Profile (978) 687-2321

Office Locations

10 George Street Suite 300
Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 687-2321
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25 Fletcher Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824
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295 Varnum Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854
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354 Merrimack Street Building 1
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 687-2321
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Some issues Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD can help you with:

Headache

Headaches are dull or sharp pains that occur in regions of the head and face. Headaches occur in many different forms and vary in location, severity, and duration. They are not necessarily a sign of an underlying illness and often resolve on their own. However, headaches can present significant day-to-day discomfort. The most common forms of headaches include:

  • Migraines: one of the most prevalent types of headache, migraines typically last from two hours to three days, causing a throbbing pain on one side of the head. Nausea, sensitivity to bright lights, fatigue, and blurred vision all may accompany migraines. While migraines have no known cure, medications and lifestyle modifications may ease symptoms. Avoiding behaviors that may trigger migraines such as lack of sleep or loud, repetitive noises can improve headaches.
  • Tension headaches: also known as stress headaches, these headaches are characterized by pain in the upper top part of the head and behind the eyes. Tension headaches are common and have no exact cause; however, certain practices may increase the likelihood of developing them. For example, wearing one's hair up in a tight hairstyle or wearing a restrictive hat can put pressure on the scalp, leading to a tension headache. Other causes of tension headaches may include alcohol or nicotine use, caffeine, teeth grinding, stress, overexertion, and eye strain. Some people find posture improvement, alternating sleeping positions, and neck exercise can alleviate tension headaches. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motren) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may also reduce tension-headache pain.
  • Sinus headaches: this type of headache causes pain in the sinuses, but may progress to pain and pressure in the eyes, forehead, and cheeks. These headaches are often accompanied by nasal congestion, fatigue, and ache in the upper teeth and may or may not be caused by sinus infections or sinusitis (sinus inflammation). Some sinus headaches are allergic headaches, which arise from allergic triggers such as seasonal allergies (pollen allergies) or hay fever, causing sinus pressure and facial pain. Other symptoms of allergic headaches include nasal congestion, irritated or watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. Allergic headaches may be treated with antihistamine medications such as cetirizine (Zyrtec). Allergic headaches are common during pollen season, which is usually around springtime.
  • Cluster headaches: these headaches occur suddenly and cause stabbing, sharp pain from one eye down to the one side of the neck. They are often referred to as the most aggravating and painful type of headaches. Other symptoms of cluster headaches include nasal congestion, droopy eyelid, and enlarged pupil on one side of the face. In the past, it was widely believed that cluster headaches were caused by a bevy or "cluster" of multiple types of headaches, such as a combination of an allergic headache and a tension headache. Medical experts now recognize that cluster headaches are a separate and unique form of headache. Cluster headaches last for around twenty minutes to two hours. They may recur throughout the period of a day or several weeks, but usually dissipate within a month. Treatment for cluster headaches includes over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motren) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Prescription Prednisone can help with swelling and Verapamil may reduce pain by relaxing the blood vessels.

Living with headaches is challenging; headaches can prevent people from fully enjoying life. Medical treatment and care in avoiding certain triggers can help those with headaches begin to feel normal once again.

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

  • Heart disease
  • Older age
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 10%

By Volume:

inpatient hospital care

In 2023, Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD performed more inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) procedures for Medicare patients than 90% of providers in related specialties within Massachusetts.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated as a neurologist in Lowell, MA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 161
inpatient care 161

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD.

Gender
Male 44
Female 69
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 97
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 30
From 75 to 84 21
85 and over 24
Less than 65 38

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD in 2018

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated during 2018 were hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 64
Stroke 54
Ischemic Heart Disease 40
Depression 50
Chronic Kidney Disease 53
Asthma 15
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 18
Heart Failure 30
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 22
Diabetes 37
Dementia 29
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated as a neurologist in Lowell, MA during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care and emergency care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD for Medicare patients.

emergency care 21
hospital care 1130
inpatient care 1130

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD.

Gender
Male 300
Female 354
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 542
Black 0
Hispanic 56
Asian 34
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 187
From 75 to 84 197
85 and over 137
Less than 65 133

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD in 2019

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated during 2019 were high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 49
Ischemic Heart Disease 48
Depression 52
Chronic Kidney Disease 57
Asthma 11
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 23
Heart Failure 41
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 27
Diabetes 43
Dementia 35
Cancer 16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated as a neurologist in Lowell, MA during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care, outpatient care and emergency care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD for Medicare patients.

emergency care 15
hospital care 708
inpatient care 658
outpatient care 50

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD.

Gender
Male 242
Female 263
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 407
Black 0
Hispanic 40
Asian 39
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 159
From 75 to 84 165
85 and over 93
Less than 65 88

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD in 2020

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated during 2020 were high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 49
Ischemic Heart Disease 50
Depression 50
Chronic Kidney Disease 59
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 28
Heart Failure 39
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 28
Diabetes 46
Dementia 36
Cancer 14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated as a neurologist in Lowell, MA during 2021 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 561
inpatient care 491
outpatient care 70

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD.

Gender
Male 169
Female 193
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 294
Black 0
Hispanic 32
Asian 18
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 127
From 75 to 84 116
85 and over 60
Less than 65 59

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD in 2021

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated during 2021 were high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and stroke.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 53
Ischemic Heart Disease 52
Depression 48
Chronic Kidney Disease 64
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 26
Heart Failure 43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 44
Dementia 34
Cancer 11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated as a neurologist in Lowell, MA during 2022 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 297
inpatient care 284
outpatient care 13

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD.

Gender
Male 103
Female 107
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 168
Black 0
Hispanic 20
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 56
From 75 to 84 64
85 and over 40
Less than 65 50

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD in 2022

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated during 2022 were high cholesterol, hypertension, stroke and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 64
Ischemic Heart Disease 43
Depression 38
Chronic Kidney Disease 43
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 33
Heart Failure 32
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 20
Diabetes 41
Dementia 26
Cancer 15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated as a neurologist in Lowell, MA during 2023 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 319
inpatient care 319

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD.

Gender
Male 112
Female 132
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 201
Black 0
Hispanic 17
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 87
From 75 to 84 67
85 and over 45
Less than 65 45

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD in 2023

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated during 2023 were high cholesterol, hypertension, stroke and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 64
Ischemic Heart Disease 35
Depression 43
Chronic Kidney Disease 45
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 14
Atrial Fibrilation 36
Heart Failure 41
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 26
Diabetes 42
Dementia 29
Cancer 14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2018 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated as a neurologist in Lowell, MA were hospital care, inpatient care, outpatient care and emergency care.

emergency care 18
hospital care 529
inpatient care 507
outpatient care 44

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2018 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD.

Gender
Male 161
Female 186
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 15
Non-Hispanic White 284
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 27
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 105
85 and over 66
Less than 65 68
65 to 74 107

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD From 2018 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 55
Ischemic Heart Disease 44
Depression 46
Chronic Kidney Disease 53
Asthma 12
Osteoporosis 9
Heart Failure 37
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 25
Diabetes 42
Atrial Fibrillation 27
Dementia 31
Cancer 11

Education & Training

Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD graduated from Medical College of Wisconsin in 2013. She completed residency at Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - Neurology and has a state license in Massachusetts.

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin (2013)

Residency: Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center

Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - Neurology

Licensed In: Massachusetts

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Meg Vannostrand, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Tufts Medicine
LGH MEDICAL GROUP, INC

Ratings & Reviews

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Biography

Dr. Meg Vannostrand is a specialist in neurology (brain & spinal cord disease). She works in Lowell, MA, Chelmsford, MA, and Lawrence, MA. Her clinical interests include sciatica (sciatic nerve pain), facial pain, and stroke. Dr. Vannostrand is a graduate of Medical College of Wisconsin. She is professionally affiliated with Tufts Medicine. According to Tufts Medicine, she is currently accepting new patients at her office in Lowell, MA.

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