A health care provider will diagnose a stroke based on signs and symptoms, medical history, and diagnostic scans to image the brain (CT or MRI scans). The provider checks a person’s alertness, coordination/balance, sensation and strength in certain body parts, and any difficulties seeing. Sometimes additional tests of the heart (electrocardiogram and/or an echocardiography) are done to search for blood clots and other problems.[1]
How is a stroke diagnosed?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
A stroke is diagnosed by a healthcare provider through an assessment of signs and symptoms, medical history, and brain imaging scans like CT or MRI. The provider evaluates alertness, coordination, sensation, strength, and vision and may also conduct heart tests to check for blood clots and other issues.