The 5 warning signs of deadly stroke that strike up to 90 days before | The Sun
IF you experience sudden stroke-like symptoms which go away just asquickly, it's important not to dismiss them, doctors have warned.
You might not be worried if your arm feels numb or weak for just a few minutes, or your speech temporarily gets garbled.
But doctors stressed that stroke-like symptoms which disappear shortly after you experience them aren't something you should brush off, simply because they don't leave lasting damage.
These warning signs could be what's referred to as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – it's also called a 'mini stroke' or a 'warning stroke'.
Its symptoms are similar to what one would consider a stroke.
"The only difference is they don’t lead to a permanent neurological injury," according to Dr. Ahmed Itrat, stroke medical director at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.
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But people who experience a TIA often go on to have a full-blown stroke – a serious life-threatening medical condition where the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off – in the days or weeks following.
Dr. Brandon Giglio, director of vascular neurology at NYU Langone Hospital, told the Huffington Post: “It really is a harbinger in many people for someone who is going to have a stroke even within the next 48 hours and certainly within the next seven, 30, 90 days.”
What the symptoms of a 'warning stroke'?
A 'mini stroke' can occur when blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted, according to the NHS.
Like a stroke, the main symptoms of a TIA can be remembered with the phrase BE FAST:
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- Balance — the person may have changes in balance or a loss of balance.
- Eyesight — changes in vision, like blurriness, loss of sight or double vision are something to look out for.
- Face – the face may have dropped on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
- Arms – the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them raised because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm.
- Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all, despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you're saying to them.
- Time – it's time to call 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms
You could experience a mix of these symptoms or just one, so it's important to not wait around for more than one sign to appear.
How long do they last?
According to Dr. Joshua Willey, a stroke neurology expert at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, TIAs probably last for a round five or 10 minutes – but sometimes they only strike for 30 to 60 seconds.
"The effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours," NHS guidance stated.
Through a 'mini stroke' may only last seconds or minutes, experts stressed that you should never dismiss them because of how quickly they go away.
Dr Itrat said: “Even though, by definition, transient ischemic attacks are transient, when a person’s having symptoms there’s no way to predict whether that’s going to be resolving down the road or the symptoms are going to persist and lead to a disability."
That means you should not minimise a minute of arm soreness or blurred vision – while the discomfort might fade within seconds, it could herald much more serious consequences days or months down the line.
What do to if you experience a warning stroke?
Firstly, if you think you've experienced a warning stroke, you should seek medical help immediately.
"It's important to call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if you or someone else has symptoms of a TIA or stroke," NHS guidance said.
You should also take aspirin straight away if you or someone else suspects you're having a TIA.
Even if the symptoms disappear while you're waiting for an ambulance to arrive, you still need to be assessed in hospital, the NHS emphasised.
If you think you may have had a TIA previously, but you didn't seek medical advice at the time, make an urgent appointment with a GP, it added.
When at the hospital, Dr Willey said you should never discount your symptoms, even if you're no longer experiencing them.
Treatment will vary according to your age and medical history, but you're likely to be given advice about lifestyle changes that can reduce your stroke risk, and be offered medicine to treat the cause of the TIA.
What can predispose you to a stroke?
Ischaemic stroke, the most common form of the condition, occurs when a blood clot prevents the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. This is typically caused by arteries becoming narrower over time.
While arteries can narrow naturally with age, other factors, some of which are preventable, can accelerate the process:
- smoking
- obesity
- drinking too much alcohol
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol levels
- having diabetes
The less common haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain, which is usually the result of high blood pressure.
Again, the factors which contribute to high blood pressure can often be prevented:
- being overweight or obese
- drinking too much alcohol
- smoking
- lack of exercise
- stress, which can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure
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Over 100,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK and they're responsible for over 38,000 deaths, according to Stroke Action.
Meanwhile, there are 1.3 million people living in the UK who have survived a stroke – many living with disabilities.
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