Mini Stroke Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Education is the first step toward prevention, so read on for valuable information regarding mini stroke symptoms, causes and treatments for this serious condition.
You may have heard talk of transient ischemic attacks versus ischemic attacks, which is commonly referred to as mini stroke and major stroke. What you may not know is the difference between the two, and why they are so important?
Symptoms of a Mini-stroke
The first place to look is the name. Mini stroke is obviously a smaller, short-lived attack, without the devastating effects of an actual stroke. A patient usually fully recovers within 24 hours.
The similarities however, are much greater than the differences. Just as with a major stroke, a mini stroke is caused by an interruption in the blood flow to the brain, which can be caused in several ways, including blood clotting, narrow blood vessels, debris in blood stream, trauma, disease or ingestion of sympathomimetic drugs (like cocaine).
Mini stroke symptoms occur suddenly and vary according to where in the brain the blockage occurs. Mini stroke symptoms are identical to major stroke symptoms; the tricky part is that it is a fleeting phenomenon, with mini stroke symptoms often gone by the time the patient reaches the emergency room – leaving the doctor with only medical history to make a diagnosis. Often he/she will also question the patient about the experienced mini stroke symptoms, and anyone who may have witnessed the episode.
Common mini stroke symptoms include: numbness on one side in face, arm, or leg; speech problems, vision loss, blurry vision, confusion, loss of coordination/balance.
Behaviour, onset, duration, variation and severity are all important factors to take into account, especially for bystanders who believe they are watching someone experience the symptoms of mini stroke.
Finally, a doctor can perform a complete physical exam specifically with a thorough examination of mental status and neurological assessment. If it is determined that the patient has in fact experienced mini stroke symptoms, then likely medication to thin blood or remove plaque will be administered. If determined high-risk for a major stroke, sometimes surgery is needed.
Mini strokes resolve without any permanent brain damage. That said, experiencing mini stroke symptoms is considered a medical emergency and a warning of trouble ahead if changes aren't made. Ignoring the warning implicit in mini stroke symptoms will almost certainly lead to disaster.
