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Cardiolucent

Condition

Stroke / Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Cardiovascular risk reduction and source evaluation after a stroke or TIA.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted long enough to cause neurologic injury, and a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief episode of similar symptoms that resolves without permanent damage. Both events are urgent warnings of cardiovascular disease and carry a significant risk of recurrent stroke if not addressed aggressively. Cardiology plays a central role in stroke care: identifying cardiac sources of clot (such as atrial fibrillation), evaluating the heart's structure, and managing the systemic risk factors — hypertension, lipids, diabetes, and tobacco — that drive recurrence. For patients with a history of stroke or TIA, Dr. Kedan focuses on rigorous secondary prevention in coordination with neurology.

What Cardiolucent Evaluates

  • Detailed history of the event and current neurologic status
  • EKG and extended ambulatory rhythm monitoring to screen for atrial fibrillation
  • Transthoracic echocardiography with bubble study when indicated
  • POCUS at every visit for interval cardiac reassessment
  • Carotid ultrasound and vascular Doppler studies
  • Aggressive management of blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and antithrombotic therapy
  • Coordination with neurology and Cedars-Sinai stroke specialists

Common Symptoms

  • Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the face, arm, or leg
  • Sudden trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • Sudden visual loss in one or both eyes
  • Sudden severe headache without obvious cause
  • Sudden loss of balance, coordination, or dizziness
  • TIA symptoms resolve within minutes to hours; stroke symptoms persist
  • Any of these symptoms warrants calling 911 immediately

Risk Factors

  • High blood pressure
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Tobacco use
  • Carotid artery disease
  • Prior stroke or TIA
  • Heart failure and certain valve diseases
  • Patent foramen ovale in select younger patients
  • Sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome

How Cardiolucent Approaches Treatment

After a stroke or TIA, the priority is to prevent a second event. Dr. Kedan ensures the source has been fully characterized — including extended rhythm monitoring for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation when no cause is initially found — and implements rigorous secondary prevention: anticoagulation when atrial fibrillation or other cardiac sources are present, antiplatelet therapy for non-cardioembolic events, intensive lipid lowering, strict blood pressure control, and management of glucose and lifestyle factors. Care is coordinated with neurology and, when relevant, with stroke and structural specialists at Cedars-Sinai.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a stroke and a TIA?
A stroke causes lasting brain injury from interrupted blood flow, while a TIA is a brief episode of similar symptoms that fully resolves, usually within minutes to hours. A TIA is sometimes called a 'warning stroke' because it carries a substantial risk of a full stroke in the following days to weeks if not addressed urgently.
Why am I seeing a cardiologist after a stroke?
Many strokes have a cardiac origin — most commonly atrial fibrillation, which can throw clots to the brain — and the cardiovascular risk factors that cause stroke are essentially the same as those that cause heart attack. A cardiologist's role after a stroke is to find any cardiac source and to drive intensive secondary prevention.
What testing will I need?
Standard evaluation includes an EKG, echocardiography (often with a bubble study to assess for a patent foramen ovale), extended ambulatory rhythm monitoring to search for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, carotid ultrasound, and laboratory testing for lipids, glucose, and clotting. The plan is tailored to the type of stroke and any clues from imaging.
Will I need to be on a blood thinner?
Patients with atrial fibrillation or certain other cardiac sources of clot benefit from anticoagulation. Patients with non-cardioembolic stroke or TIA usually take antiplatelet therapy instead. Dr. Kedan reviews the indication, the choice of agent, and the bleeding risk individually.
What symptoms warrant calling 911?
The FAST acronym is a useful shortcut: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. Sudden numbness, severe headache, loss of vision, or severe imbalance also warrant emergency evaluation. Time matters — many stroke treatments work only within a narrow window.
Can a stroke be prevented?
Yes. Up to 80% of strokes are estimated to be preventable through blood pressure control, lipid management, treatment of atrial fibrillation, tobacco cessation, diabetes control, and lifestyle change. Secondary prevention after a stroke or TIA is particularly high yield because the risk of recurrence is concentrated in the months after the first event.
What is a patent foramen ovale, and should I be tested?
A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small flap-like opening between the upper heart chambers present in about a quarter of adults. In selected younger patients with an otherwise unexplained stroke, closing the PFO can reduce the risk of recurrent stroke. Whether to test for and treat a PFO is an individualized decision.
How long do I need to be monitored for atrial fibrillation after a stroke?
Paroxysmal AFib can be elusive on short monitors. After a stroke of unclear cause, extended monitoring — sometimes including an implantable loop recorder — is increasingly the standard, because finding occult AFib changes treatment from antiplatelet to anticoagulant therapy.
What does Cardiolucent do differently for stroke patients?
Dr. Kedan personally builds and tracks the secondary prevention plan rather than passing it off, with extended appointment time, POCUS at the visit, and direct coordination with neurology and Cedars-Sinai specialists. The goal is to make sure no source is missed and every modifiable risk factor is addressed.
How do I schedule a consultation?
Call (310) 304-5555 or use the contact form to schedule with Dr. Kedan at the Beverly Hills office. Cardiolucent does not bill Medicare or insurance; a detailed superbill is provided for any out-of-network reimbursement.

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Medical Disclaimer

The information on this site is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading this site does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal guidance. If this is an emergency, call 911. Mentions of medications, devices, or procedures are informational and not endorsements. Full medical disclaimer.

†Some listed indications involve investigational/off-label use. Learn more.