2006-08-10 13:55:03 · 16 answers · asked by koifox_104 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Yes. An EKG and cardiac lab work will show if you've suffered a heart attack. A CT of the head will show if you've suffered a stroke.
2006-08-10 13:59:27 · answer #1 · answered by mocha5isfree 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As said before, the answer to both questions is yes.
A 12 lead EKG shows heart muscle damage very quickly after the onset of a heart attack. It can also show signs of old heart attacks. A 12 lead will often show a definite sign of an Myocardial Infarction, (MI) you know better as a heart attack, called ST segment elevation. The ST segment is the part of the EKG wave that extends from where the big QRS complex returns to the line to the first bump after it returns. To be an ST segment elevation, the ST segment must be at least 2 mm above the isoelectric line. This sign means there is current injury occurring to the heart. Your MD will use clot busting medication or immediately send you to a Cardiac Cath Lab if they see this. Within 8 hrs, untreated, this elevation will switch to depression, an ominous sign as this indicates the injured heart muscle has died.
Just as there are electrical signs to an MI, there are chemical signs. 2 specific cardiac enzymes begin elevating in 2-4 hours after myocardial injury. They are called Creatinine Kinase and Triponin. They will remain elevated for 48-72 hrs.
For old MI's you may also be able to detect abnormal muscular pumping patterns in a procedure called a transesophageal echocardiogram.
Alright, addressing CVA's (cerebrovascular accidents) or what you know better as a stroke. There are 2 types of stroke, a hemorrhagic stroke and an ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic CVA are caused by a blood vessel rupturing. Blood rushes into the brainand the brain cells die. An Ischemic CVA is caused by a clot that blocks the normal blood flow to the brain. Brain cells die.
Both CVA's are detectable by a CT scan. Hemorrhagic CVA's show bright white spots. Ischemic CVA show up as dark areas in the brain.
The treatment varies. Ischemic CVA's need clot busting medication within 2-4 hrs of onset of symptoms. Hemorrhagic CVA's require surgical intervention.
I am including a link to lab tests online so you can gain more information on Troponin and CK and a link to learn more about EKG's
2006-08-10 14:56:53 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well to answer the first part of your question, doctors usually do a lab test which finds whether you have a rise in your troponin levels. This is an enzyme generally secreted by the heart when it is damaged. (heart attack)
As far as a stroke is concerned it is usually diagnosed by doing an angiogram of your brain. This is done by shooting dye up past your neck veins through to the rest of the blood vessels of your brain. This will show whether you have clots or whether a blood vessel is constricting such as during a migraine. This includes blood vessels that supply the eye . It also can find abnormal vessels that a person has since birth that can weaken and later bleed. These are also known as AVM's or cavernous malformations.
2006-08-10 14:12:15 · answer #3 · answered by shy_in_az2006 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you have had a stroke, they can do a eeg, which would point out damage to certain parts of your brain.
Yes. If you have had a heart attack. There would be a residual to the chemical reactions to the heart attack. Testing would also indicate if you would be at risk for further heart attacks or strokes.
See your doctor.
2006-08-10 13:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by rb_cubed 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are tests that can be done,, like EKG and some blood tests, blood pressure, and some strength tests that can be used as indicators of damage done from a recent heart attack or stroke.
2006-08-10 13:58:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, for sure on the heart attacks. It will show up on the tests. On a stroke, I think it's more of a determination they make after various tests not just that it pops up on one specific test.
2006-08-10 13:58:35 · answer #6 · answered by Rvn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes... and it really depends on the timeframe for heart attacks.
If it is recent (within the last 1-3 days), bloodwork can show elevated levels of enzymes that are released by dead heart cells. older heart attacks might be seen on an EKG (heart tracing), if they were large enough. usually EKG's show damage when a large area of heart is dying. Doctors can also do imaging tests (echocardiograms, nuclear scans, CT and MRIs) to look for alive, dead, and damaged areas in the heart.
2006-08-10 14:06:38 · answer #7 · answered by yarn19 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you just had a heart attack, there is a blood test that doctors can perform to determine if it really was a heart attack (there's a certain elevation in certain chemicals in the blood). They can also do an MRI.
2006-08-10 13:58:12 · answer #8 · answered by PuttPutt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes there are many tests to know about any such recent attack.ECG will show the heart attacks and stroke will have some residual effect on your nervous system which can easily be detected on clinical examination
2006-08-10 13:59:22 · answer #9 · answered by DEAR T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there are blood tests that look for enzymes dumped out of dying cells in the heart.
2006-08-10 13:58:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋