Overview
To start, your healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll do a physical exam of your head and neck area and a neurological exam. They’ll likely make their diagnosis based on a few different factors, like:
- The specific type of pain you’re feeling.
- The exact spot on your face where you feel pain.
- Which activities or actions trigger a painful episode.
Many conditions have facial pain as the main symptom, so your provider will need to rule them out. Examples include cluster headaches, migraines, postherpetic neuralgia and TMJ dysfunction.
Your provider may recommend a brain MRI to figure out what exactly is causing TN, like pressure from a blood vessel or a tumor.
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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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