brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Overview of Stroke
Diagnosis of Stroke
A doctor's evaluation Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging Laboratory tests including those to measure blood sugar Symptoms and results of physical examination suggest the diagnosis of stroke, but tests are needed to help doctors determine the following: Whether stroke has occurred Whether it is ischemic or hemorrhagic How severe it is and whether immediate treatment is required What the best way to prevent future strokes is Whether rehabilitation therapy is needed and, if so, what it should include The blood sugar level is measured immediately because a low blood sugar level ( Hypoglycemia ) occasionally causes symptoms similar to those of stroke, such as paralysis on one side of the body. Computed Tomography (CT) (CT) or Determine whether a stroke has occurred and estimate how long ago it occurred Determine whether the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic Identify any large arteries that are blocked with a clot that could be removed mechanically—called Mechanical thrombectomy None Check for signs of increased pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure) These tests can detect most hemorrhagic strokes, except for some Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) . When CT does not detect a stroke, a spinal tap may be done to check for blood due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. CT and MRI can also detect many ischemic strokes but sometimes not until several hours after symptoms appear. Other imaging tests include Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) , If needed to confirm the diagnosis, a specialized type of MRI, called Diffusion-weighted MRI , can show areas of brain tissue that are severely and usually permanently damaged and no longer functioning. Diffusion-weighted MRI can often help doctors differentiate a transient ischemic attack from an ischemic stroke. However, this procedure is not always available. To identify the cause of stroke, doctors try to determine where the problem is: The heart: Electrocardiography (ECG), Blood vessels: CT, MRI, and ultrasonography are done to check the blood vessels from the heart to the brain. The blood: Blood tests are done to check for disorders that cause blood clotting. Doctors also do tests to check for problems that can contribute to or cause a stroke, such as a heart infection, a low blood oxygen level, and dehydration. Doctors check the urine forcocaine. Additional tests are done as needed. The ability to swallow is evaluated as soon as a stroke is suspected, sometimes by taking x-rays after a substance that can be seen on x-rays (radiopaque contrast agent), such as Barium X-Ray Studies of the Digestive Tract is swallowed. If people have difficulty swallowing, they are given nothing by mouth, except sometimes medications, until their swallowing improves. Depending on the type of stroke doctors suspect, more tests are done to identify the cause. Doctors often use a standardized set of questions and commands to determine how severe the stroke is and how well people are recovering. It includes evaluation of level of consciousness, the ability to answer questions, the ability to obey simple commands, vision, arm and leg function, and speech. 