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A stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the U.S. and it's the leading cause of long-term disability. If detected early and with proper treatment, there's a better chance of survival and fewer long-term effects. Many know the acronym BE FAST -- Balance, Eyes, Face drooping or numbness, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time -- used for recognizing and responding to a stroke. Sometimes a stroke will develop without warning, but for some, a mini-stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA), may be a telltale sign of a looming stroke.
Approximately 240,000 individuals in the U.S. experience a TIA every year. A mini-stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off for a short time, usually because a blood clot gets stuck in an artery.
While the name mini is used, these incidents can be serious. Although it doesn't usually cause permanent damage, about one in five people who have a suspected TIA will have a stroke within 90 days.
Recognizing a Mini-Stroke
Symptoms of a TIA are virtually identical to those of a stroke:
• Inability to move or numbness on one side of the body
• Difficulty talking or understanding speech
• Trouble balancing, dizziness
• Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes; blurred vision
• Confusion
• Altered sense of taste or smell
Symptoms of TIA usually last only a few minutes. But they may persist for up to 24 hours. Since the symptoms of TIA and stroke are the same, it's important to seek medical attention. Even if the symptoms are gone by the time the person gets to the hospital, a stroke can follow at any time, so it's important to get checked out. When it comes to stroke, time is brain. It's better to be safe, than sorry.
When you arrive at the hospital, the doctor may order follow-up tests, including blood work, ultrasounds of the heart, chest x-rays, CT and MRI scans, and an ultrasound of the carotid arteries in the neck.
If a TIA is detected, the doctor will advise treatment based on the underlying cause. You may need medicine to prevent blood clots, or you may need a procedure to remove fatty deposits, known as plaques, from the arteries that supply blood to your brain. Additionally, once a TIA is diagnosed, a follow-up visit with a neurologist is recommended to assess your risk of future stroke.
What Can You Do?
Some risk factors for stroke are out of your control, like family history and age, but other risk factors you can control, include managing your chronic health conditions.
Simple lifestyle changes can have a direct impact on reducing risk including:
• Avoid alcohol and illegal drug use.
• Manage underlying medical conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Maintain a healthy weight and diet and exercise regularly.
• Don't smoke and if you are a smoker, quit.
Talk to your provider about your risks and how to manage them. If you have underlying health conditions, you may also need medication to help lower your risks.
If you are observing someone exhibiting the signs and symptoms of a stroke, call 911. Please do not take a blood thinner or other medication as they may make your symptoms worse. Getting to the closest emergency department and stroke center is key, and emergency medical personnel are trained to know where to go and how to get the patient ready for treatment once they arrive at the hospital.
Gaurav Dighe, M.D., is a vascular neurology specialist and medical director of Stroke Care at UPMC in North Central Pennsylvania. He is certified in vascular neurology and neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Dighe sees patients at UPMC Neurological Institute, 740 High St., Williamsport. To learn more about the comprehensive stroke care services available at UPMC in North Central Pa., visit UPMC.com/NeuroNCPA