Mini Stroke Signs and Symptoms

A mini stroke is known as transient ischemic attack in medical terms. This condition is very scary, as the attack takes place when the blood flow within a person's brain decreases or gets blocked. The symptoms are temporary and similar to a heart stroke.

The mini stroke signs and symptoms are basically a sign that the person may soon suffer from a heart stroke. This will cover some information regarding the signs that one should watch out for.

A mini stroke is caused by an embolism or thrombus blocking an artery that blocks or decreases the blood flow. This embolism can travel from one part of the body to another. The thrombus is formed inside the artery and is stationary, as opposed to embolism.

The cause of embolism and thrombus both, are due to plaque that attaches itself to the walls of the artery.

An embolus or emboli (plural of embolus) forms in the human heart, carotids, and the aorta. The carotids are the neck arteries that supply the brain with blood. They are commonly seen when one suffers from atrial fibrillation. This leads to formation of blood clots and blockage of arteries.

Plaque is a sticky substance that is commonly known as cholesterol. This plaque travels through the arteries and sticks to the walls of these blood vessels. When the plaque becomes hard, it obstructs the cells and other debris, causing them to collect in one area.

As the clot grows, it begins restricting the blood flow. The cells are deprived of oxygen and if the cells do not receive oxygen-rich blood for 4 minutes, they begin to die due to ischemia. The other symptoms are:

• Previous heart attack
• Heart valve diseases
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Cerebrovascular diseases

The mini stroke occurs when there is decreased blood flow to the brain include:

• Confusion
• Sudden headache
• Loss of balance
• Difficulty in speaking

One may even experience signs like blurry vision, numbness, dizziness, and inability to move a limb on one side of the body.

The best way to recognize the symptoms is the FAST test. You need to ask the person you think may be experiencing stroke, three simple questions. If you see that the person is finding it difficult to answer even one question, dial the emergency number. The questions are as follows.

• Facial weakness: Can the person smile? Is his mouth or eyes drooping?
• Arm weakness: Can the person raise both the arms?
• Speech difficulty: Can the person speak clearly? Do they understand what you say?
• Time to act: You need to act fast and dial 911 or the emergency help line of your area.

The symptoms last only for about a few minutes and may disappear without any brain tissue damage. If the signs last for more than 5 minutes, it indicates a stroke, hence call for medical help immediately.

The doctor may begin with the treatment 3 hours after the mini stroke. They may administer tPA intravenously to dissolve the blood clot. In severe cases, the patient may be taken for surgery, to remove the blockage. In case of another preexisting condition, the patient may be prescribed medications to treat those conditions.

The chances of development of mini strokes in women are slightly higher than in men. The chances double up, when someone in her immediate family has had a stroke. Women with high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (a kind of irregular heartbeat), heart disease, or diabetes have high chances of developing this condition.

Also the hormonal changes with pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause put them under more risk. Studies have found that African-American women have more strokes and high risk of disability or death, as compared to white women. One of the reason for this risk factor, may be due to high blood pressure in African-American women.

You should always undergo regular medical check ups to prevent a mini stroke. You can control your blood pressure, that is also one of the causes of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). You should maintain low levels of cholesterol in your blood, by eating a low-fat diet.

You should stop smoking, as it is one of the major factors that increases your chances of a stroke or heart attack. Exercise regularly to stay healthy and maintain your heart health to the optimum.

Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.