Minor stroke is a stroke that lasts a short time and can disappear within minutes or hours. However, you still need to be aware of minor strokes, because they can be symptoms of a permanent stroke that need to be treated immediately.
Mild stroke or known in medical terms transient ischemic attack(TIA) is a condition when the blood supply to the brain is temporarily blocked due to a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain.
Even if it lasts for a short time and doesn't cause permanent brain damage, you still need to be vigilant because a minor stroke can be a warning that you are at risk of having a more severe stroke in the future.
Various Symptoms of Minor Stroke
Symptoms of a minor stroke are generally similar to those of a permanent stroke. Following are some of the symptoms:
- Facial muscles weaken and make one side of the face down
- Difficulty lifting both arms and legs due to weakness or numbness
- Impaired speech ability, for example slurred and irregular speech or even unable to speak
- Tingling in parts of the body affected by a mild stroke, such as the face, arms, and legs
- Impaired vision in one or both eyes
- Loss of body balance and body coordination system
- Difficult to swallow
The basic difference between a minor stroke and a stroke is the severity of the blockage that blocks blood flow to the brain. In a mild stroke, the blockage is still small and has not caused permanent damage to the nerves of the brain.
In addition, minor stroke symptoms can also improve in minutes or hours. Meanwhile, the blockage of blood flow to the brain that occurs in a stroke is severe enough to cause brain nerve damage.
Mild Stroke Risk Factors
It has been previously mentioned that a minor stroke is caused by an obstruction of the blood supply to the brain. This blockage can occur due to the buildup of plaque or air clots in the arteries.
In addition, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of having a mild stroke, namely:
- Over 55 years old
- Family history of stroke
- Smoking habit
- Consumption of fatty and high-salt foods
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Certain medical conditions, such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes
- Heart rhythm disturbances
If you experience any of the symptoms of a minor stroke, immediately contact the nearest doctor or hospital to get the right treatment.
The doctor will carry out a series of examinations to confirm the diagnosis, including physical tests, blood tests, and supporting examinations, such as CT scans, MRIs, EKGs, and X-rays.
Through the diagnosis obtained by the doctor, treatment will be tailored to the cause of the minor stroke you are experiencing. Doctors can prescribe medications to prevent blood clots or remove plaque buildup from the arteries that supply blood to the brain.
Important things to be aware of from minor stroke symptoms
Although the symptoms of a mild stroke are brief, this condition needs to be watched out for because it can be life-threatening. A person who has had a minor stroke is thought to have a lower life expectancy than those who have never had a minor stroke.
A study also shows that about 4 in 10 people who have a minor stroke are at risk of having a stroke permanently. What's more dangerous is that half of these strokes can occur within 48 hours after the symptoms of a minor stroke.
Other research shows that about 10 percent of people who have had a minor stroke will have a stroke within the next 1-5 years.
More severe conditions can occur if minor stroke symptoms are not detected and left untreated. Disorders of the brain that do not get treated quickly and appropriately can lead to complications, such as dementia.
Regardless of whether you have experienced it or not, there are several ways that can reduce the risk of mild stroke, namely stopping smoking, limiting the consumption of cholesterol foods, avoiding alcoholic beverages, and exercising regularly.
You also have to meet the needs of nutrient-rich foods from fruits and vegetables, and maintain an ideal body weight. If you have a condition that can increase your risk of a minor stroke, consult your doctor to find out how to prevent it.