Every day, we put our lives into the hands of doctors. We trust that they will listen to us, care for us, and will know what to do when something goes wrong. Unfortunately, doctors are just as human as we are—and if they are not careful, they can miss the subtle signs of a stroke in Kentucky.
A stroke is a serious and potentially fatal injury that must be treated quickly. They occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot or torn blood vessel, causing the brain to lose oxygen and nutrients, eventually killing the brain’s cells.
Symptoms of a stroke can be hard to spot, so your doctor must be extremely careful before making a diagnosis. Here are just a few tests that can help to diagnose a stroke in Louisville:
- Physical exam. The first test your doctor should perform is a thorough physical exam. This includes asking questions about your symptoms, examining your medical history, evaluating your medication regimen, checking your blood pressure, and looking into your eyes for signs of clotting.
- Blood tests. A blood test will determine how fast your blood clots and reveal any chemical imbalances in your system.
- CT scan. This computerized tomography, or CT, scan will give your doctor a three-dimensional picture of the blood vessels in your brain to check for signs of stroke, aneurysm, or malformations in your blood vessels.
- MRI. Similar to a CT scan, a magnetic resonance imaging scan can show if any areas of your brain have suffered damage after a stroke. Some of these use an injection of a dye into your veins to highlight any inconsistencies or blockages in your arteries.
- Carotid ultrasound. In this procedure, a doctor will use a long wand to transmit high-frequency sound waves into your neck. This will help discover any clots or narrow passages in the carotid arteries.
- Arteriography. This procedure is more invasive, and involves the insertion of a narrow catheter into one of the arteries in your leg. The doctor will then feed the catheter along your body to check the condition of your arteries.
If you or someone you love was misdiagnosed when having a stroke, our Louisville brain injury attorneyscan help you get the compensation you deserve for your suffering. Call Gray and White today at (800) 634-8767 or click the contact link on this page to get started on your FREE case evaluation.