Overview
Your healthcare provider will offer a physical exam, neurological exam and testing to make an ALS diagnosis.
An ALS diagnosis doesn’t happen immediately. You’ll likely schedule several office visits to see your provider or referring physicians. Your provider will order multiple tests to learn more about your symptoms and how they affect your body. There are a lot of conditions that have similar symptoms to ALS, so multiple exams and testing are necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
What tests diagnose ALS?
You’ll need several tests to confirm an ALS diagnosis, including:
- Blood tests.
- Urine tests.
- Electromyogram (EMG) to measure the electrical activity of your nerves and muscles.
- A nerve conduction study to test your nerves’ ability to send signals.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at your brain or spine for areas of damage.
Other tests can’t diagnose ALS but can help rule out different conditions that may cause similar symptoms:
- A lumbar puncture.
- Muscle and/or nerve biopsy.
Products & Services
A Book: Future Care
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.
The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.
Prevention
Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
Print
Living with atrial fibrillation?
Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Heart Rhythm Conditions support group on Freedmans Health Clinic Connect, a patient community.
Heart Rhythm Conditions Discussions
See more discussions
Comments are closed for this post.
Related
Advertisement
Clinic Press
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Care at Freedmans Health.