A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted as a result of a broken or blocked blood vessel. Stroke may be hemorrhagic or ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or breaks, allowing blood to leak into the brain. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked or restricted by severely narrowed arteries or a blood clot. Show Because treatment depends on the type of stroke, your doctor may use head CT or head MRI to help diagnose your condition. Other tests may include blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), carotid ultrasound, echocardiography or cerebral angiography. Immediate stroke treatment can help save lives and reduce disability by restoring blood flow for an ischemic stroke or controlling bleeding and reducing pressure on the brain in the case of a hemorrhagic stroke. What is a stroke?A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted as a result of a ruptured or blocked blood vessel. Brain cells that do not receive a constant supply of oxygenated blood may die, causing permanent damage to the brain. There are two types of strokes: hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or breaks, allowing blood to leak into the brain. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked or restricted by severely narrowed arteries or a thickened mass of blood called a blood clot.
A short episode of stroke-like symptoms is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke. Most often, no permanent damage results from a TIA; however, a TIA is often a warning sign that a stroke will occur. Symptoms of a TIA may last from a few minutes to up to 24 hours. The symptoms of stroke depend on which part of the brain is affected. In some cases, a person may not know that he or she has had a stroke. Symptoms, which usually develop suddenly and without warning, include:
top of page How is a stroke diagnosed and evaluated?The first step in assessing a stroke patient is to determine whether the patient is experiencing an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke so that the correct treatment can begin. A CT scan or MRI of the head is typically the first test performed.
To help determine the type, location, and cause of a stroke and to rule out other disorders, physicians may use:
top of page How is a stroke treated?A stroke is a medical emergency. Immediate treatment can save lives and reduce disability. Treatment depends on the severity and type of stroke. Treatment will focus on restoring blood flow for an ischemic stroke and on controlling bleeding and reducing pressure on the brain in a hemorrhagic stroke. If a stroke is caused by a blood clot, the patient may be able to receive a clot-busting drug such as tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) to dissolve the clot and help restore blood flow to the damaged area of the brain. Clot-busting drugs, which can only be given within the first few hours of stroke onset, are typically delivered intravenously by emergency medical personnel or in the hospital emergency department. Patients may also receive blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin or warfarin (also called by the brand name, Coumadin®), heparin or clopidogrel (also called by the brand name Plavix®). Other stroke treatments include:
Following a stroke, many patients will receive post-stroke rehabilitation to overcome disabilities that may occur as a result of the stroke. Post-stroke treatment may also include efforts to prevent another stroke by controlling or eliminating risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. top of page This page was reviewed on March, 23, 2021 ImagesView full size with captionSponsored ByPlease noteRadiologyInfo.org is not a medical facility. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician. To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Discuss the fees associated with your prescribed procedure with your doctor, the medical facility staff and/or your insurance provider to get a better understanding of the possible charges you will incur. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR), comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas. Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo.org provides links to relevant websites. RadiologyInfo.org, RSNA and ACR are not responsible for the content contained on the web pages found at these links. What tests are done after a stroke?Cerebral angiogram. A physical exam. Your doctor will do a number of tests you're familiar with, such as listening to the heart and checking the blood pressure. ... . Blood tests. ... . Computerized tomography (CT) scan. ... . Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ... . Carotid ultrasound. ... . Cerebral angiogram. ... . Echocardiogram.. What blood tests detect stroke?Imaging Scans Used to Diagnose Stroke
The rest are hemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding in the brain. Currently, there is no blood test for detecting stroke, although several groups are developing them.
Would a stroke show on ECG?In the present study, the most common ECG abnormalities associated with stroke were T-wave abnormalities, prolonged QTc interval and arrhythmias, which were respectively found in 39.9%, 32.4%, and 27.1% of the stroke patients and 28.9%, 30.7%, and 16.2 of the patients with no primary cardiac disease.
Does a CT scan show a stroke?If it's suspected you're experiencing a stroke, a CT scan is usually able to show whether you have had an ischaemic stroke or a haemorrhagic stroke. It's generally quicker than an MRI scan and can mean you're able to receive appropriate treatment sooner.
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