How to recognize a ministroke or stroke — and what to do

If you suddenly experience a strange but fleeting symptom — your arm or face suddenly feels weak or numb — you might be tempted to brush it off, especially if it’s short-lived. But if those odd, unexplained symptoms last more than a few seconds, they could signal a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. Commonly referred to as a ministroke, a TIA is caused by a temporary lack of blood in part of the brain. Most of the time a blood clot is to blame, and the symptoms resolve quickly because your body’s natural clot-dissolving action restores blood flow. But according to the American Stroke Association (ASA), these events should be called warning strokes rather than ministrokes. “A TIA can be a harbinger of a much more serious stroke,” says Dr. Christopher Anderson, director of acute stroke services at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. If a blood clot blocking a brain artery doesn’t dissolve and remains in place for more than a few minutes, it can destroy brain cells by depriving them of oxygen and nutrients. Known as an ischemic stroke, these account for 87% of all strokes. As many as 17% of people who have a TIA will suffer a full-blown ischemic stroke within the next 90 days, with the greatest risk in the first week. What should you understand about TIAs? A recent study found that women with short-lived sensory or visual symptoms were less likely to be diagnosed with TIA compared with men. One reason could be that migraines are more common in women....
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Healthy Aging Hypertension and Stroke Neurological conditions Source Type: blogs