Dr. Arun Tungaria
Neurosurgery
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
Answered by
Medically reviewed by
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
A patient has a history of high blood pressure and is on anticoagulant medication (blood thinner Coumadin) because of congestive heart failure. What blood tests or other tests are required by the patient if he is showing early signs and symptoms of a brain stroke?After the tests, is any urgent medication or treatment required that can prevent the brain stroke or minimize its effect? What is the chance of success?Would the early detection medical test and urgent medication to prevent brain stroke have remained the same even if brain stroke occurs because of high blood pressure and is aggravated by the anticoagulant medication (blood thinner Coumadin)?
Please help.
Hello,
welcome to icliniq.com.
I went through your query and understand your concern. The following are the answers to your questions. Yes, the following tests can be performed to know the future risk of stroke- lipid profile, serum homocysteine levels, and color doppler test of neck vessels.Various studies have shown that the risk can be reduced by the intake of antiplatelet drugs like Aspirin (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) or Clopidogrel (antiplatelet). Also, Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl conenzyme A reductase inhibitors) can be given if the LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol levels are very high. The answer to your last question is yes.
I hope I helped you. Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
However, I have a few questions.
Can these tests (lipid profile, serum homocysteine levels, color doppler test of neck vessels) detect the future risk of hemorrhagic stroke even if they are done four to twelve hours before the occurrence of the hemorrhagic stroke? Can the risk of hemorrhagic stroke be reduced with antiplatelet drugs like Aspirin or Clopidogrel even if the patient is on anticoagulant medication (blood thinner Coumadin) because of congestive heart failure and even if such medication is taken four to twelve hours prior to hemorrhagic stroke? Is there any positive or negative effect of giving Tylenol (Paracetamol) to a patient who is showing the early signs and symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke?
Kindly answer.
Hello,
welcome back to icliniq.com.
These tests (lipid profile, serum homocysteine levels, color doppler test of neck vessels) can detect the future risk of hemorrhagic stroke even if such tests are done four to twelve hours prior to the occurrence of hemorrhagic stroke. The answer to your second question depends on the condition of the patient and the associated risk factors for that particular case which needs to be evaluated thoroughly by the physician. In general, the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is high in patients taking anticoagulants, and intake of antiplatelet drugs could further increase the risk. No study has been conducted to evaluate the positive or negative effects of Tylenol to date.
I hope I have helped you. Thanks and regards.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for your reply.
Is there no medication or treatment to prevent or at least minimize the effect of hemorrhagic stroke when the patient is taking an anticoagulant?
Please give your suggestions.
Hello,
welcome back to icliniq.com.
The risk of hemorrhagic stroke is already high in patients who are on anticoagulants. There is no such test that can predict the occurrence of hemorrhagic stroke in the next four to twelve hours. However, high blood pressure that is poorly controlled is very often associated with the risk of developing hemorrhagic stroke. I suggest you consult a physician for the medication.
I hope this has helped you.
Thank you.
Was this conversation helpful?
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Neurosurgery
Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy
