Job Hazards

Stroke Diagnosis

If a person displays symptoms of a stroke, a doctor will quickly review the patient's health records and administer medical tests, 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 take several days. The patient will undergo various tests during this process such as:

• Physical exam: During the physical exam, the doctor checks out the 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): This is a pain-free procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to identify the amount of plaque lining the carotid arteries.
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): This is a 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): This test shows whether heart problems led to the stroke (e.g., heart attack).
• Blood tests: The types of blood tests administered after a stroke 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.