There's Nothing Mini about a Stroke

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They’re called ministrokes, minor strokes, TIAs, or transient ischemic attacks. Whatever the terminology, they can be distressing and frightening whether you experience one yourself or someone you know or care about ends up in the hospital with that diagnosis.

As Marvin Gaye Once Asked, “What’s Going On?”

In my personal and professional life, reports of ministrokes appear to be increasing. I have either talked to people or read their accounts of these medical incidents several times during the last few weeks alone, so I thought it was time to explain what they were and—better still—talk about ways to reduce and prevent them.

Yes, although they sometimes run in families, many strokes can be prevented. We will address that later in this article.

What Is a Ministroke Exactly?

A ministroke occurs when blood flow to the brain, spinal cord, or retina (the area at the back of the eye)? is temporarily interrupted by a blockage such as a blood clot. Ministrokes don’t damage brain cells or permanently disable the patient. The episodes can last a few minutes to a full 24 hours.

The Story Doesn’t Always End There

Unfortunately, ministrokes often indicate that a major stroke may be imminent—perhaps within 48 hours. Approximately one-third of the people who experience ministrokes experience a major stroke.

How Do You Identify a Stroke?

Here is a list of ministroke symptoms. The tricky thing is that sometimes they develop not suddenly, but over a period of hours or days:

• One-sided muscle weakness or numbness
• Trouble speaking or understanding simple speech
• Problems with balance or dizziness
• Double vision
• Sudden severe headaches with no known cause

The one thing you do not want to do is self-diagnose this set of symptoms as “not that serious.” Seek medical attention immediately.

So What Is a MAJOR Stroke?

In contrast, a major stroke (sometimes called a CVA or cerebrovascular accident)? is much more serious with far-ranging and sometimes permanent effects, including death.?

How to Recognize a Stroke

The FAST acronym, which is used to determine quickly whether a stroke emergency is developing, goes like this:

F—(face) The person suddenly develops a lopsided grin or facial droop

A—(arms) They can’t raise their arms to an equal height because one of them droops downward

S—(speech) Their speech becomes slurred, incoherent, or strange

T—(time) Time is critical; call 9-1-1- and transport the person to a medical emergency facility

If you’re concerned you might be making a mistake by calling an ambulance only to find out that the situation isn’t serious after all, consider the alternative.? Would you rather risk failing to act to save someone’s life or “overreacting” and drawing their anger due to “wasting their time”? The answer is clear.

What Happens After a Major Stroke

Even if you survive a major stroke, complications can continue to develop. Per the NIH, you can develop:

• Deep leg vein blood clots
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Decreased bone density or strength
• Muscle weakness or paralysis
• Reduced language skills and memory capacity
• Seizures
• Brain swelling
• Loss of vision, hearing, or touch
• Difficulty swallowing and subsequent pneumonia (from inhaling food or liquids into your lungs)
• Trouble talking

Age and Probability: the Statistics

The stats show that I'm not the only one hearing about way too many strokes. The NIH reports that 800,000 people suffer strokes yearly, and three-quarters of those are first strokes. Most will have another one within five years.

Pregnancy, childbirth, and even menopause can cause strokes in females, but they can occur at any age to any gender. Even babies can suffer a stroke pre-birth, and this can cause cerebral palsy.

Race and Stroke: More Statistics

There are racial disparities in the incidents of strokes and stroke-related death. Per the NIH, males and black children are at a higher risk for stroke. Black people between the ages of 45 and 54 suffer triple the stroke rates of their white counterparts. In addition, more of these strokes are fatal. These numbers are often attributed to the higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol among black people.

How Can We Prevent Strokes?

Monitoring factors like high blood pressure, which typically has no symptoms, can help prevent strokes. Many people begin medication for their blood pressure only after they find out from their doctor how dangerous their numbers are. That’s why regular medical checkups are so critical.

Obesity is a significant factor because of the inflammation caused by excess fatty tissue, which increases stroke risk. Being obese more than doubles your chances of having a stroke, and in just half a century, obesity rates have increased from 13% to 34%.

New nutritional education classes and behavioral methods appear to be improving obesity rates, however, so participation in these programs can aid in obesity and stroke prevention.

Stress: A Key Factor

As you probably figured out by now, stress is a significant factor in stroke risk. People experiencing long-term stress can be four more times likely to have a stroke than those who do not undergo chronic stress. I wish I could post that on a public billboard.

That is one of the reasons why I emphasize stress reduction methods so often. They are not only relaxing and enjoyable, but they also prevent serious medical conditions.

And yes, this includes work stress. Recent studies show that work stress can lead to an increased risk of stroke in adults. That’s why it’s important to delegate work tasks when you can and choose an occupation you enjoy to reduce your overall stress levels.

Even 30-minute walks or simple forms of daily meditation, such as brief breathing exercises, can make a difference.

SUMMARY

Recognizing and preventing ministrokes, also known as TIAs or transient ischemic attacks, which can be distressing and often indicate an impending major stroke, is vital.?

Major strokes occur when blood flow to the brain, spinal cord, or retina is briefly interrupted, leading to temporary symptoms like muscle weakness, speech difficulties, balance problems, double vision, or sudden and unexplained severe headaches. It is crucial not to dismiss these symptoms and to seek immediate medical attention.

Use the FAST acronym to quickly identify potential strokes, which stands for Face drooping,? Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 911. Major strokes can have severe and sometimes permanent effects—including death.?

Prevention strategies include monitoring and managing risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol through regular medical checkups. Obesity is a significant factor. Eucational programs and breakthrough behavioral change methods can help combat it.

Finally, racial disparities in stroke incidence and deaths are often linked to higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Addressing these health disparities is crucial in the effort to prevent strokes.

Chronic stress is another risk factor for stroke. Emphasizing the importance of stress reduction methods, including practicing meditation and choosing enjoyable occupations to mitigate work-related stress, helps tremendously.

If you feel it’s time for you to benefit from a relationship with a certified coach who can guide you to relax, reduce your stress, and take better overall care of yourself, book a session by clicking this link: https://calendly.com/teriselang/coachtalk. Or if you simply want to talk first to make sure I’m a good fit for your needs, use this link: https://calendly.com/teriselang/get-acquainted-chat