Screening for Stroke
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The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Screening Guidelines or Tests
There are no screening guidelines for stroke . There are no tests designed to detect a stroke before you have symptoms. A stroke comes on too quickly.
But, there are warning signs and symptoms that can alert you to the need for additional testing to see if you are at higher risk for a stroke. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are brief episodes where blood flow to a particular area of the brain is halted. This leads to temporary symptoms of a stroke. Since no permanent damage is done, these events may serve as warning signs that tests need to be done.
Similarly, certain heart-related symptoms (eg, palpitations, temporary dizziness) may be symptoms of atrial fibrillation . This condition could put you at higher risk for developing a stroke. Your doctor may do tests to determine your risk. These test may include:
- Carotid ultrasound
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Echocardiogram
In addition, at your routine physical exam, your doctor does some screening tests to detect conditions that increase your risk of stroke and heart disease. These include blood pressure measurement, cholesterol tests, and blood glucose tests for diabetes. There are also screening questionnaires that can help predict your risk for stroke. These can be a helpful starting point for beginning a discussion with your doctor about lowering your risk factors for a stroke.
References:
Glymour M, Kosheleva A, Boden-Albala B. Birth and adult residence in the Stroke Belt independently predict stroke mortality. Neurology. 2009;73:1858-1865.
Kasper DL, Braunwald E, Fauci A, Hauser S, Longo D, Jameson JL. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 16th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004.
Stroke risk questionnaire. Siteman Cancer Center website. Available at: http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=englishfunc=startquiz=stroke. Accessed February 2, 2010.
Last reviewed February 2010 by J. Thomas Megerian, MD, PhD, FAAP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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