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Home » Areas of Practice » Labor Laws » Job Hazards » Stroke

Stroke Diagnosis

If a person displays symptoms of a stroke, a doctor will swiftly familiarize themselves with their health records and administer tests on the patient such as a computed axial tomography (CAT) scan. The CAT scan indicates whether the patient is experiencing a cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral ischemia. The information revealed in the CAT scan enables the doctor to select the right course of treatment and possibly pinpoint the precise location of the damage.

When the patient is in stable condition, the entire evaluation may not be concluded for a number of days. The patient will undergo various tests during this process such as:

  • Physical exam -- doctor checks out patient's carotid arteries with a stethoscope. If an unusual sound, or carotid bruit, is heard, the risk of atherosclerosis and carotid artery disease increases. These two factors can directly lead to stroke.
  • Carotid ultrasound (Duplex scanning) -- pain-free procedure using high-frequency sound waves to identify the amount of plaque lining the carotid arteries.
  • Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) -- diagnostic test used to quantify the level of blockage in the carotid arteries. The MRA is similar to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which is also used to identify strokes.
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG) -- shows whether heart problems led to the stroke (e.g., heart attack).
  • Blood tests -- may include a complete blood count (CBC) and lipid profile (measures cholesterol). By identifying risk factors related to stroke such as high cholesterol, the doctor can devise a long-term therapy plan to lower the chances of a second stroke.

Additional testing, such as the electroencephalogram (EEG), may be utilized to gauge brain functionality by analyzing electrical activity. This painless exam uses tiny metal electrodes in contact with the scalp that help disclose the extent of neurological damage caused by the stroke. The electrodes are hooked up with wires to an electroencephalograph machine which graphs the brain's electrical pulses. Another study may be performed on the patient to assess how their brain reacts to sights, sounds, and touch.