Screening helps to find and treat health problems early. Tests are given to people who don't have symptoms, but who may be at risk for certain health problems.

There is no screening test for stroke, but your risk should be checked at your yearly physical. This can be done with:

Blood pressure tests
Blood tests to measure cholesterol and glucose levels
Tests of your body mass index (BMI) and waist size
Questions about your lifestyle habits, such as eating, smoking, activity, and alcohol use

If you are at high risk, your doctor may want to do tests more often.

References:

Glymour M, Kosheleva A, Boden-Albala B. Birth and adult residence in the Stroke Belt independently predict stroke mortality. Neurology. 2009;73(22):1858-1865.

Stroke (acute management). EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.... Updated November 27, 2018. Accessed January 17, 2019.

Winstein CJ, Stein J, Arena R, et al, American Heart Association Stroke Council, Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, Council on Clinical Cardiology, and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research.. Guidelines for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2016 Jun;47(6):e98-e169 full-text, corrections can be found in Stroke 2017 Feb;48(2):e78 and Stroke 2017 Dec;48(12):e369.

Last reviewed December 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review BoardRimas Lukas, MD
Last Updated: 1/17/2019

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