Photo Credit: grishko/ShutterShock

Text Size:

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. Brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or there is sudden bleeding into or around the brain. The symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; or sudden severe headache with no known cause.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) -- or "mini-stroke" -- is a transient stroke that lasts only a few minutes. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted. TIA symptoms, which usually occur suddenly, are similar to those of stroke but do not last as long. Most symptoms of a TIA disappear within an hour, although they may persist for up to 24 hours. It is impossible to predict who will suffer a stroke and precisely when a stroke is going to occur.

Possible contributors to stroke and mini-stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, heart problems, and family history.

New treatments and new strategies for dealing with stroke and mini-stroke are being discovered all the time.  To help keep up on the latest discoveries in this field look into the website of the National Stroke Association:

National Stroke Association: Information on Stroke Prevention, Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Recovery

It's important to understand as much as you can about the stroke or the mini-stroke you’ve had so that you can plan your treatment with your doctor.  Here's an excellent overview:

WebMD: Stroke Treatment Overview

A second medical opinon may be useful now:

American Heart Association: Second Medical Opinions

There are things you can do to help prevent a stroke or to lessen the chances of a second stroke:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms

After being diagnosed with a stroke or mini-stroke it is understandable to experience a flood of emotions. You need to deal with these emotions as they arise. Talk frankly and openly with your loved ones and make contact with a support group, either online or in person. Here's how to find emotional support:

Stroke.org: Recovery After Stroke -- Coping with Emotions

After suffering a stoke, particularly a mini-stroke, it can be difficult to know just what to tell family and friends, or to deal with fears about the future:

National Stroke Association: Life After Stroke - Survivor and Caregiver

Stroke and Mini-Stroke Myths

• University of Tennessee Medical Center: Busting Stroke Myths 
• National Stroke Association: Stroke Myths

Resources Highly Recommended by Stroke Survivors

• National Stroke Association
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Stroke Information Page
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs, or mini-strokes)
• Mayoclinic.com: Mini-stroke vs. regular stroke: What's the difference?
• Organizedwisdom.com: Stroke and Mini-Stroke Health Center

Comments / Post a comment