Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke can make someone feel very sleepy, confused or even unconscious, so family members or loved ones may need to provide important details about the patient’s medical history. An emergency medical technician, doctor, nurse or another medical professional will want to know if the person has high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder or if they take blood thinners. They might also ask about habits like smoking, drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs, since these can raise the risk of a stroke.

During the physical exam, your care team will check for signs of a hemorrhagic stroke, like changes in how the person thinks or speaks, problems with eye movements, weakness on one side of the body, drooping on one side of the face, or difficulty moving the neck. These signs help your care team figure out what’s happening and start the right treatment quickly.

While there isn't one blood test that can directly diagnose a hemorrhagic stroke, blood tests can help your care team understand what might be causing the symptoms. Some tests that may be done include:

• Complete blood count (CBC): This test checks the overall health of your blood and can help identify problems like clotting issues, anemia or infections.
• Coagulation tests: These measure how quickly your blood clots, which is important for understanding your stroke risk.
• Electrolyte tests: These check the balance of certain substances in your blood, which help your muscles and nerves work properly.
• Blood glucose test: This measures your blood sugar levels to see if they’re too high or low, as this can affect stroke risk.
• C-reactive protein tests: These check for inflammation in the body, which may be caused by damage to the arteries.
• Liver and kidney function tests: These help rule out other health issues or find any irregularities that could be linked to a stroke.

These tests, along with other exams, give doctors the information they need to figure out the cause of the stroke and start the right treatment.

To diagnose a stroke or rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms, your care team will likely order one or more imaging tests. These tests help doctors see what’s happening inside the brain and guide the next steps in treatment. Some common imaging tests include:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan creates images that show bleeding in the brain. It helps doctors distinguish between a hemorrhagic stroke (caused by bleeding) and an ischemic stroke (caused by a blockage).
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnets to take detailed images of the brain. It can help doctors understand the stage and potentially the underlying cause of a hemorrhagic stroke, including how much damage has occurred and where.
• CT angiography: This test takes detailed images of the blood vessels to identify potential problems, such as an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which may be causing the hemorrhagic stroke.
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): If a CT scan is unclear or unable to detect certain issues, a spinal tap can be used to check for subarachnoid hemorrhage, especially if there is still concern about a hemorrhagic stroke despite negative results from other tests.

These imaging tests give your care team a clearer picture of what’s happening in your brain and help them make quick, informed decisions about the best treatment for you.