Silent and Deadly
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAS), or mini-strokes, result from temporary interruptions of blood flow to the brain. Unlike full strokes, they present symptoms lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 24 hours. Rarely do they cause permanent neurological damage, but they are often precursors of a major stroke.
"Our message is quite clear," says Dr. Robert Adams, professor of neurology at the Medical College of Georgia in August. "TIAS, while less severe than strokes in the short term, are quite dangerous and need a quick diagnosis and treatment as well as appropriate follow-up to prevent future injury."
Unfortunately, mini-strokes are greatly under diagnosed. A study conducted for the National Stroke Association indicates that 2.5% of all adults aged 18 or older (about 4.9 million people in the U. S. ) have experienced a confirmed TIA. An additional 1.2 million Americans over the age of 45, the study showed, have most likely suffered a mini-stroke without realizing it. These findings suggest that if the public knew how to spot the symptoms of stroke, especially mini-strokes, and sought prompt medical treatment, thousands of lives could he saved and major disability could be avoided.
The problem is that the symptoms of a mini-stroke are often subtle and passing. Nonetheless, there are signs you can look out for:
*Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
*Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
*Confusion and difficulty speaking or understanding.
*Difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of coordination.
*Severe headache with no known cause.
Along with these symptoms, researchers have identified some key indicators that increase your chances of having a full-blown stroke after a TIA: if you’re over 60, have experienced symptoms lasting longer than 10 minutes, feel weak and have a history of diabetes.
As with many diseases, you can help yourself by changing your lifestyle. The first things you should do are quit smoking, limit your intake of alcohol to no more than a drink or two a day and increase your physical activity. Even those who suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes can improve their odds—and minimize complications if they do have a stroke—by keeping their illness under control.
If you experience any of the symptoms, your first call should be to your doctor. It could be the call that saves your life. Which of the following is NOT true of mini-strokes