View the Health Heart Book

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer
Connect with others who've been there. Share stories. Learn. Join Mayo Clinic's
online community.

Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

A stroke in progress is usually diagnosed in a hospital emergency room. If you're having a stroke, your care will focus on minimizing brain damage and helping you recover and avoid another stroke in the future. If you haven't yet had a stroke but are worried about your future risk, you can discuss your concerns with your doctor at your next scheduled appointment.

What to expect from your doctor
In the emergency room, you may see an emergency medicine specialist or a neurologist as well as nurses and medical technicians. Your emergency team's first priority will be to stabilize your symptoms and overall medical condition. Then your care will focus on determining if you are having a stroke and, if so, which type. There are different treatments for ischemic strokes caused by artery blockage and hemorrhagic strokes caused by blood vessel rupture.

If you are seeking your doctor's advice during a scheduled appointment, your doctor will evaluate your risk factors for stroke and heart disease. Your discussion will focus on quitting smoking if you are a smoker and on lifestyle strategies or medications to control high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors. In some cases, your doctor may recommend certain tests and procedures to better understand your risk or to treat underlying conditions that raise risk.

Tests and diagnosis Complications
References
  1. Caplan LR. Overview of the evaluation of stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  2. Caplan LR. Etiology and classification of stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  3. Caplan LR. Clinical diagnosis of stroke subtypes. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  4. Oliveira-Filho J, et al. Initial assessment and management of acute stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  5. Oliveira-Filho J, et al. Antithrombotic treatment of acute ischemic stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  6. Kistler PJ, et al. Treatment for specific causes of stroke and transient ischemic attack. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  7. Oliveira-Filho J. Fibrinolytic (thrombolytic) therapy for acute ischemic stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  8. Landmark NIH clinical trial comparing two stroke prevention procedures shows surgery and stenting equally safe and effective. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2010/ninds-26.htm. Accessed March 15, 2010.
  9. del Zoppo GJ, et al. Expansion of the time window for treatment of acute ischemic stroke with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator: A science advisory from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2009;40:2945.
  10. Easton JD, et al. Definition and evaluation of transient ischemic attack. Stroke. 2009;40:2276.
  11. Adams RJ, et al. Update to the AHA/ASA recommendations for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack. Stroke. 2008;39:1647.
  12. Ederle J, et al. Carotid artery stenting compared with endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (International Carotid Stenting Study): An interim analysis of a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 2010;375:985.
  13. Stroke risk factors. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=risk. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  14. Effects of stroke. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=EFFECT. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  15. Stroke symptoms. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SYMP. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  16. Recovery and rehabilitation. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=REHABT. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  17. Pain. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pain. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  18. STARS (steps against recurrent stroke). National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=STARS. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  19. Recovery after stroke: Thinking and cognition (fact sheet). National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/NSAFactSheet_Cognition.pdf?docID=986. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  20. Rehabilitation services (fact sheet). National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/Choose_Rehab.pdf?docID=1101. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  21. Recurrent stroke (fact sheet). National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/NSAFactSheet_RecurrentStrokerevised.pdf?docID=998. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  22. Carotid endarterectomy. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=carotid. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  23. Life after stroke: Survivor and caregiver. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=las. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  24. Controllable risk factors: Obesity. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dietexercise. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  25. Recovery after stroke: Social support (fact sheet). National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/NSAFactSheet_SocialSupport.pdf?docID=1003. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  26. Heart disease and stroke statistics: 2009 update. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3037327. Accessed March 17, 2010.
  27. Post-stroke rehabilitation fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/poststrokerehab.htm. Accessed March 19, 2010.
  28. Greelish JP, et al. Carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2010.
  29. Greelish JP, et al. Carotid endarterectomy in asymptomatic patients. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2010.
  30. Greelish JP, et al. Carotid angioplasty and stenting. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2010.
  31. Furie KL, et al. Secondary prevention of stroke: Risk factor reduction. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2010.
  32. Know stroke brochure. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://stroke.nih.gov/materials/actintime.htm. Accessed March 22, 2010.
  33. Flemming KD, et al. Secondary prevention strategies in ischemic stroke: Identification and optimal management of modifiable risk factors. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2004;79:1330.
  34. Caplan LR. Patient information: Hemorrhagic stroke treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2010.
  35. Intracerebral hemorrhage. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec16/ch211/ch211c.html?qt=hemorrhagic%20stroke&alt=sh. Accessed March 26, 2010.
  36. Subarachnoid hemorrhage. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec16/ch211/ch211d.html. Accessed March 26, 2010.
  37. Post-stroke rehabilitation. American Stroke Association. http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1041. Accessed March 26, 2010.
  38. Being a communication partner: Stroke communication tips. American Stroke Association. http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3030113. Accessed March 29, 2010.
  39. Physical activity and healthy diet. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=eathealthy. Accessed March 29, 2010.
  40. Stroke risk reduction: A healthy nutrition guide. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=STARS. Accessed March 29, 2010.
  41. Goldstein LB, et al. Primary prevention of ischemic stroke. Stroke. 2006;37:1583.
  42. Rordorf G, et al. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: Prognosis and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 29, 2010.
  43. Singer RJ, et al. Treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 29, 2010.
  44. Brott TG, et al. Stenting versus endarterectomy for treatment of carotid-artery stenosis. New England Journal of Medicine. In press. Accessed May 26, 2010.
DS00150 July 1, 2010

© 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger