• Detect damage to arteries due to injuries.
After the Procedure
Note: this procedure is dangerous for people
with pacemakers. Be sure your physician or
technologist knows if you have a pacemaker.
• If you were injected with contrast medium,
drink plenty of fluids to help flush it from
your system.
• Your doctor will discuss the results with you
when they are ready.
Before You Have MRA
Echocardiography
(Echo)
The magnet used in MRA can cause metal
objects in your body to move or heat up.
Metal can also distort the image. Be sure to
tell the radiologist or technologist if you:
An echocardiogram (echo) is an imaging test.
It helps your doctor evaluate your heart. This
test:
• Have a metal plate or pins, an artificial
joint, staples or screws, or other metal
implant.
• Have a bullet or other metal in your body.
• Work with metal.
• Have tattoos (some inks contain metal).
• Have braces.
• Is safe and painless.
• Can be done in a hospital, test center, or
doctor’s office.
• Bounces harmless sound waves (ultrasound)
off the heart. A transducer (device that
looks like a microphone) is used.
• Helps show the size of your heart. It
also helps show the health of the heart’s
chambers and valves.
Also tell the technologist if:
• You are, or think you may be, pregnant.
• You are allergic to contrast medium (x-ray
dye) or any medications.
• You wear a medicated adhesive patch.
Before Your Echo
During the Procedure
• Discuss any questions or concerns you have
with your doctor.
• Mention any over-the-counter or
prescription medication, herbs, or
supplements you’re taking.
• Wear a two-piece outfit for the test. You
may be asked to remove clothing and
jewelry from the waist up. If so, you’ll be
given a short hospital gown.
• Remove hair clips, jewelry, dentures, and
other metal items that could affect the
image. You may also be asked to remove
makeup, which can contain metal.
• You may change into a hospital gown. An
IV (intravenous) line may be set up.
• You will lie down on a platform that slides
into the MRI machine.
• At times, the magnet may be within a few
inches of your face. It is normal for the MRI
machine to make loud knocking noises
during some parts of the exam.
• Several studies may be done. Contrast
medium may be injected into a vein
through an IV line for some of the studies.
• The whole procedure may take 30 to 90
minutes.
During Your Echo
• Most echo tests take 20 to 30 minutes.
• Small pads (electrodes) are placed on your
chest to monitor your heartbeat.
• A transducer coated with cool gel is moved
firmly over your chest. This device creates
the sound waves that make images of your
heart.
• At times, you may be asked to exhale and
hold your breath for a few seconds. Air in
your lungs can affect the images.
• The transducer may also be used to do
13
Other Recovery
Considerations
What Are Your Risk Factors?
Risk factors are different for each person.
Check the boxes that apply to you. Keep in
mind that some factors, such as your age, can’t
be changed. But others CAN be managed.
Managing Bowel and Bladder
After a stroke, you may not be able to
control your bladder and bowels. The
nursing team will work closely with you to
set up a routine. Absorbent briefs or urinary
catheters may be used during the transition.
Health Risk Factors
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Mood Swings and Depression
After a stroke, a patient may feel sudden or
extreme emotions. Sadness and depression
are common. These feelings may be due to
damage to areas of the brain, or they may
in response to the awareness of the stroke.
Mood swings are also very common. You
may feel loss of control of your emotions.
You have high blood pressure.
You’re overweight.
You have unhealthy cholesterol levels.
You have atrial fibrillations.
You’ve had a heart attack.
You have narrowed arteries.
You have diabetes.
Lifestyle Risk Factors
o
o
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Tips:
• Stay calm. Accept the behavior and go on
with what you were doing.
• Recognize that the behavior is a result of
the stroke.
• Do not criticize yourself.
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