How to detect early stroke
To find out whether someone has had a stroke and/or is at risk of having a stroke, early detection is the most appropriate step to minimize the risk and as a preventive measure. Patients are advised to undergo regular electrocardiography (EKG), blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney function, MRI-MRA Brain, Carotid Ultrasound examinations.
- An EKG is performed to check the electrical activity of the heart to detect heart rhythm disturbances. When the heart experiences a rhythm disturbance, the heart will beat irregularly (arrhythmia). Arrhythmias can cause blood clots to form in the heart chambers. These blood clots can at any time move to the brain and cause a stroke.
- Blood pressure to detect the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is also a major risk factor for stroke, because it can cause blockages in the blood vessels leading to the brain and within the brain itself.
- Cholesterol to detect the risk of narrowing of the blood vessels.
- Blood sugar to detect the risk of diabetes which can cause the formation of blockages and fatty deposits in blood vessels. When blood vessels are blocked, the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain will be disrupted, resulting in a stroke.
- Kidney function is carried out to detect damage to the kidneys, which function to filter and clean the blood. When kidney function decreases, metabolic disorders such as anemia, blood clotting disorders, and blockage of blood vessels increase, which can cause stroke.
- MRI-MRA Brain , it is recommended to carry out an MRA examination if you have symptoms such as a throbbing headache that often appears repeatedly in the same place, feeling increasingly painful (progressive). MRA can detect narrowing or hardening of blood vessels and blood vessel abnormalities such as aneurysms. MRA results provide a fairly good and very useful solution for imaging cerebral blood vessels.
- Carotid Doppler Ultrasound , to check for narrowed carotid arteries. Carotid arteries are usually narrowed by a buildup of plaque, which consists of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances that circulate in the bloodstream and can cause stroke.
How is the treatment
Stroke requires emergency medical action during the golden period after the initial symptoms of stroke occur. Immediate treatment is needed to prevent permanent damage or more severe disability that could result in death. 4.5 hours is the golden period to reduce the risk of death and permanent disability. Apart from that, patients also need to have a CT scan to find out the type of stroke.