Ministroke is otherwise called transient ischemic attack or TIA. It’s a brain stroke which lasts less than 24 hours.
Around 1 in 3 people who experience a ministroke experience a stroke within a year.About 1 in 10 patients with TIA experience a stroke in the next 3 months.
What happens in TIA
TIA or ministroke is a temporary weakness for minutes to hours not more than 24 hours. In many patients it continues for a minute. It occurs due to temporary blockage of an artery in brain.
Symptoms of ministroke
Ministroke or TIA causes injury in brain, ear and eye. Sudden weakness of any limb, decrease sensation, sudden head reeling, sudden vision loss for some minutes, sudden facial deviation etc are primary features of TIA.
What’s the difference between ministroke and major stroke?
The symptoms of TIA are temporary, lasting only a few minutes to 24 hours. Symptoms can be so mild they go unnoticed. Unlike a major stroke, TIAs do not usually result in significant physical or functional impairment.
How to recognise a ministroke
It’s not so difficult. Sudden loss of balance, loss of vision, drooping of face, weakness or decrease sensation, change in speech then even if the symptoms decrease with in minutes run to nearest hospital.
What to do if ministroke occurs
Never neglect the ministroke. Run to nearest hospital. If possible meet a Neurologist as early as you can. Because if ministroke is there there is every chance a big stroke will happen very soon. Treatment for prevention of large stroke will be given. Don’t stop any medication prescribed to prevent stroke with out consulting your doctor.
How to prevent ministroke
It’s not so difficult. Avoid the risk factors of stroke. It will definitely decrease the chance of ministroke. And if you have ministroke, please be cautious, any time a major stroke can happen. Another very important thing is never stop the medications prescribed to prevent stroke.
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Reference
Johnston SC. Transient ischemic attack. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002 Nov 21;347(21):1687-92.
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