why you should never ignore a 'mini' stroke
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on tuesday, u.s. president donald trump says he did not have a “series of mini-strokes” after he made a mysterious, unscheduled visit to walter reed hospital in maryland last november. this, after a political analyst questioned whether or not the unannounced trip was because of a stroke.
eight past u.s. presidents have had at least one stroke, one of which was fatal and another who kept it hidden. woodrow wilson suffered from a stroke in 1919 which left him partially paralyzed.
what is a mini stroke?
more accurately known as a transient ischemic attack (tia), this type of stroke happens when a blood clot or plaque buildup in arteries causes a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain, spinal cord, or retinas.
although it can cause temporary stroke-like symptoms, such as numbness or muscle weakness — usually on one side of the body — slurred speech, dizziness, loss of balance, double vision or difficulty seeing, a tia will not damage brain cells or cause permanent disability. however, it is a serious warning that a person is at high risk of stroke, says the canadian heart and stroke foundation.
symptoms typically last less than one hour, usually less than 30 minutes and can be confused for seizure, migraine, tumour, vertigo, subdural hematoma (bleeding from traumatic brain injury), syncope (fainting or passing out, and amnesia.
while patients generally recover from a tia, they still need to see a doctor immediately to identify the cause of the attack and to start treatment to prevent a stroke. tias most often occur days or even hours before a stroke. the highest risk is within the first 48 hours after a tia, and there is a 10 to 15 per cent risk of stroke within the first three months post-tia.
high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm), diabetes, and high cholesterol can put one at a higher risk of tia. the best way to prevent tias is to eat healthy, manage stress, and exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week.
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