Mini Stroke Symptoms a Neurologist Wants You to Know, Plus When to See a Doctor
Spotting early warning signs can help reduce the risk of long-term damage
From a certain high-heeled Mouse to the tiny version of our favorite candy, just the idea of “mini” is psychologically reassuring. But when it comes to a mini stroke, the diminutive prefix does little to ease our fears. And that makes sense because a stroke, regardless of its size, is scary. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of the early warning signs of mini stroke symptoms.
The common condition affects 795,000 Americans each year, but the good news is that the brain is remarkably adaptable. With the right treatment and lifestyle tweaks, it is possible to mitigate mini stroke symptoms. Here, a top neurologist explains everything you need to know about a mini stroke and what to do if you think you’re experiencing symptoms.
What is a mini stroke?
Though not an official medical term, a mini stroke is just as its name implies, says neurologist James C. Grotta, MD, Director of Stroke Research, Clinical Institute for Research and Innovation, Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center and Director of the Mobile Stroke Unit Consortium. “It means a stroke that has mild symptoms compared to a more severe stroke that results in disabling symptoms.”
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And while you may have heard that a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is synonymous with a mini stroke, that’s not exactly true. “A TIA is an even milder stroke, where the symptoms are fleeting, typically lasting only a few minutes,” he explains. “All three events—a major stroke, a mini stroke and a TIA—are caused by a blockage of an artery supplying the brain, usually by a blood clot.”
The severity of a stroke largely depends on where that clot is located. “In a major disabling stroke, it’s in a relatively large artery that supplies what we call an ‘eloquent’ part of the brain, an area controlling motor, language, vision or sensory function on the side of the body opposite the stroke,” Dr. Grotta continues. “But with a mild stroke, the clot is in a smaller artery or involves a less important region of the brain. And in the case of a TIA, the clot dissolves before any brain damage occurs.”
Mini stroke symptoms to watch for
“With a mini stroke, you may be a little weak in your face or arms, or feel a bit numb or clumsy,” says. Dr. Grotta. ”With a major stroke, you may experience a total lack of sensation.” But, as with so many things in life, “severity” can be a relative term.
“If you’re a pianist, for instance, and feel ‘mild’ tingling in your hand, that may be disabling for you but not for someone else,” he says. “The scope and severity of symptoms also depend a lot on your age and ability level when a stroke occurs—there are many shades of gray.”
Though there are several variables when it comes to how we interpret or experience symptoms, a few other common signs of a mini stroke include:
- Slurred speech
- Blurred or double vision
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Headache
- Tingling on one side of the body
What to do if you experience mini stroke symptoms
If you suspect you’re having mini stroke symptoms, seek medical attention right away. Your doctor will likely diagnose a mini stroke based on your medical history, imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or a computerized tomography (CT) scan.
“The aim of stroke treatment is to give clot-busting medications—like Tenecteplase (TNK), which decreases the likelihood of disability in stroke patients—or to use a catheter to remove a larger clot and turn the stroke into a TIA. We call this an ‘averted stroke,’” explains Dr. Grotta.
You may be wondering what role Aspirin plays in stroke treatment. “While taking a baby Aspirin daily may help prevent a future stroke because it’s a blood thinner, it doesn’t treat a stroke in the early stages of one,” he says, emphasizing the importance of seeking treatment as quickly as possible, even if you think your symptoms are mild.
“A TIA, mild stroke and full-blown stroke all are associated with a high risk of recurrence if appropriate measures are not taken immediately,” he says. “So starting preventive therapy is just as important after a TIA or a mild stroke as after a major stroke.”
Know that the brain can heal
Think of the brain like a bowl of Jell-O, says Dr. Grotta. “When you have a stroke, that ‘bruise’ sends out ripples in the Jell-O that affect not only ‘local’ brain cells but billions of other neurons farther out because they’re all connected.”
Yet the brain is amazingly resilient and mini stroke symptoms generally improve on their own the first few days after a stroke. The reason? Even if one part of the brain is affected, it can gradually recover and form new connections, he explains. “That’s why we don’t measure the full outcome of a stroke until three months after it occurred.”
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