The “mini” in ministroke doesn’t mean it is something you should ignore. Just like other kinds of stroke, a ministroke is an emergency. If you or someone you know experiences signs of a stroke, it’s important to call 911 to receive immediate medical attention.
While both strokes and ministrokes are emergencies, there are some differences between the two.
Understanding Ministrokes, a.k.a. Transient Ischemic Attacks
The main cause of a ministroke, medically known as a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is a blood clot that temporarily blocks a blood vessel, cutting off blood flow to the brain. In many cases, the symptoms of a ministroke resolve over a short time, and a clot responsible for a TIA typically dissolves on its own or dislodges from the blood vessel quickly.
People who have ministrokes often experience the same symptoms as other types of stroke but for shorter periods. Stroke symptoms include:
- A severe headache
- Confusion or problems with speaking and understanding speech
- Difficulties seeing out of one or both eyes
- Difficulty walking
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
Read More: For Stroke Victims, Timing Is Everything
Ministrokes: Warning Signs of Other Strokes
“Ministrokes are very serious because they often foreshadow full-blown strokes,” says Dr. Chad Tober, a board-certified vascular surgeon at Beaufort Memorial. “Statistics show that more than 30% of people who have ministrokes have a stroke within a year if they don’t seek treatment.”
Ministrokes are very similar to ischemic strokes, the most common type of stroke. Like ministrokes, ischemic strokes occur when blood clots cut off blood flow to the brain. Typically, however, ischemic strokes cause more significant damage and symptoms may last longer.
Another type of stroke, hemorrhagic strokes, occur when an artery in the brain leaks blood or bursts. As a result, the brain is flooded with blood, which puts excess pressure on cells in part of the brain, damaging them.
While the mechanisms behind the types of stroke differ, all strokes share common risk factors, many of which are related to your lifestyle. Risk factors for stroke include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Having an abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation
- Having diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Having had a previous ministroke or stroke
- Having sickle cell disease
- Living a sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking or using tobacco
Still, there are many stroke risk factors you can’t change. Having a family history of stroke, being older, being female, and being Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native can all increase your risk of stroke.
Treatment for a Ministroke
Getting immediate help for a ministroke can prevent an ischemic stroke — and the permanent damage it can cause. A comprehensive exam conducted within the first 24 hours after a potential TIA will provide your care team with the most accurate picture of your brain’s health. In addition to performing a physical examination and reviewing your symptoms, your provider may order imaging scans and other testing to determine a diagnosis.
Results of those tests can also help your medical team choose the best treatment for you. Treatment options may include medications to prevent blood clots, treatments for atrial fibrillation and other underlying conditions that increase your risk, or surgery. One surgical procedure called a carotid endarterectomy removes plaque buildup from the carotid artery, which supplies blood to the brain. An alternative to open carotid endarterectomy may be a newer, less invasive procedure called a transcarotid artery revascularization, or TCAR.
Read More: Stroke Recovery: What to Expect on the Road Ahead
Steps You Can Take to Prevent a Ministroke
Living a healthy lifestyle is a major step in the right direction toward preventing any type of stroke. Protect your brain health by:
- Aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week
- Eating a brain-healthy diet filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fatty fish containing omega-3 fatty acids
- Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight
- Having regular checkups with your primary care provider, cardiologist or neurologist
- Limiting alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men
- Lowering your intake of saturated fat, added sugar and excess sodium
- Not smoking or using tobacco and avoiding secondhand smoke
- Working with your medical providers to manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
“Stopping tobacco is an important first step to decrease the risk of TIA and stroke,” Dr. Tober says. “It’s important to know your risk and take steps to protect your brain health.”
Talk with your medical provider about your overall health, including ways you can improve your lifestyle to reduce the risk of a stroke. While you can’t control every aspect of your risk for stroke, you can make an impact.
Knowledge is power. Learn your risk for stroke with a vascular screening at Beaufort Memorial.
