by Often people can experience what is usually called a “mini stroke” or “warning stroke” before they experience another stroke. Clinically this is known as a transient ischemic attack or Tia.
Some experts have problems with this formulation, especially since a TIA is just as serious as a stroke and still needs to be treated. According to the American Heart Association, almost 1 in 5 people with a suspected passing ischemic attack will have a full stroke within 90 days.
“TIA symptoms are interrupted symptoms that generally last the last minutes as a result of an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain,” said Dr. Larry Goldstein, the co-director of the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute.
Although the traditional definition of TIA symptoms says they solve within 24 hours, the majority of the Tias are short and last less than an hour, he said.
Below, experts share the early warning signals of a passing ischemic attack and what to do if you experience symptoms:
Balance problems and weakness
Person with one hand on their heads, leaning against a wall, seems tense or stressed, in a home environment
One of the most common signs of a TIA is balance problems and weakness. Usually this can happen on one side of your body, Dr. Hardik Amin, a associate professor of neurology and director of medical stroke in the Yale New Haven Hospital.
Loss of vision
Person who investigates a pil bottle with a thoughtful expression, with a scarf and a sweater, and emphasizes the focus on medication
Individuals can also experience ‘loss of vision in one or both eyes, or double visibility,’ said Goldstein.
This does not necessarily mean not seeing anything. Double Vision, also known as Diplopia, is when you see two images of a single object while looking at it.
Face hanging or numbness
An older woman in a blue shirt gently touches her face with a contents expression, promoting skin care or self -care in a good context
Another symptom is the hanging of facial treatment or losing muscle control on one side of your face. You can experience numbness, and it can be difficult to smile or move parts of your mouth. This may look like Bell’s paresis, a condition that causes the same type of facial paralysis. Although a stroke will usually also lead to other symptoms, it is still important to be checked immediately, even if this is the only problem you encounter.
Poor weakness
Person in a white shirt that gently holds their wrist, sitting on a desk, suggesting a moment of reflection or mindfulness
According to Goldstein, arm weakness is another possible warning signal from a TIA. Lifting objects and holding your arms can feel like difficult tasks, especially if you have had no trouble doing these things earlier. This symptom usually also occurs on one side of the body.
Speech abnormalities
Person in a hospital dress, their hands rest on their lap, in a medical environment with large windows in the background
People can have trouble producing speech or finding the right words, Amin said. Words can be unclear whether to come together, to the surprise of the speaker and their loved ones.
A TIA is an emergency and everyone who experiences it must immediately get medical attention. The good news is that “the risk of a stroke can be dramatically reduced with targeted treatment,” explains Goldstein.
Doctors can perform brain and blood vessels scans, evaluate heart function and evaluate a screen on cardiovascular risk factors that increase the risk of a stroke, according to Amin.
“Treatment of conditions such as plaque in the arteries, heart carithmies, hypertension, diabetes and others can dramatically lower the risk of future stroke, which could lead to considerable disability or even death,” he noticed.This article originally appeared on Huffpost.
