Overview
After a seizure, your healthcare professional reviews your symptoms and medical history and does a physical exam. You may have tests to find the cause of your seizure. Tests also may show how likely it is that you’ll have another seizure.
Tests may include:
- A neurological exam. This is to look at your behavior, motor abilities and how your brain works.
- Blood tests. A blood sample can show blood sugar levels and look for signs of infections or gene conditions. A health professional also may check the levels of salts in the body that manage the balance of fluids. These salts are called electrolytes.
- A spinal tap. This procedure collects a sample of fluid from the spine for testing. Also called a lumbar puncture, a spinal tap may show whether an infection caused a seizure.
- An electroencephalogram (EEG). In this test, electrodes are put on the scalp to record the electrical activity of the brain. The electrical activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. The EEG may show a pattern that tells whether a seizure is likely to happen again.
EEG testing also may help rule out other conditions that have symptoms like those of epilepsy. This test may be done at a clinic, overnight at home or over a few nights in the hospital.
Imaging tests may include:
- MRI. An MRI scan uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create a detailed view of the brain. An MRI may show changes in the brain that could lead to seizures.
- CT scan. A CT scan uses X-rays to get cross-sectional images of the brain. CT scans can show changes in the brain that might cause a seizure. Those changes may include tumors, bleeding and cysts.
- Positron emission tomography (PET). A PET scan uses a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that’s put into a vein. The material helps show active areas of the brain and brain changes.
- Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). A SPECT test uses a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that’s put into a vein. The test creates a detailed 3D map of the blood flow in the brain that happens during a seizure.
A healthcare professional also may do a type of SPECT test called subtraction ictal SPECT coregistered with MRI (SISCOM). The test may give results with even more detail. This test is usually done in a hospital with overnight EEG recording.
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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.
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