Sudden dizziness, numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or understanding the language known throughout life. These are just a few of the many symptoms of a microstroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
What is a microstroke (TIA)?
Jerry W. Swanson, MD, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, describes a TIA as “a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain, spinal cord, or retina, causing symptoms similar to a stroke.”
How is it different from a normal stroke?
The main difference between a TIA and a typical stroke is that it does not damage brain cells or cause permanent disability like a stroke, and lasts only a few minutes or hours.
“A person with a TIA dodged a bullet because they had ischemia (blockage of blood flow) but no long-term brain damage,” said Louis Kaplan, MD, professor of neurology at Harvard Beth Israel Deaconess. Health center. “But the same underlying causes are still present and likely to cause stroke in the near future.”
What are the symptoms?
Specifically, according to the “Healthline” company, one out of three people who had a microstroke will later have a stroke. Since the symptoms of both diseases are almost the same, it is better to know about them in order to get the necessary treatment as soon as possible.
Weakness, numbness, and paralysis of the face, arms, and legs are usually on one side of the body.
Confusion, slurred speech, difficulty understanding others
Blindness or double vision in one or both eyes
Dizziness, loss of balance and coordination
Sudden severe headache for no apparent reason
Who is at risk?
Risk factors for TIA or stroke include a family history of stroke or TIA, advanced age (especially after age 55), previous experience with TIA, hereditary sickle cell anemia, and race (associated with a higher prevalence in blacks). . more risky). . high blood pressure, diabetes) and gender (men have a slightly higher risk of TIA, but death from stroke is more common in women). Many of these factors are beyond our control, but knowing them can help us stay informed and prepared during PCA.
Is there anything I can do to lower my chances of having a TIA?
A healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do to prevent TIAs (not to mention many other diseases and conditions). The Mayo Clinic recommends:
Limiting cholesterol and fat, especially trans fat and saturated fat, can reduce plaque build-up in arteries and allow blood to flow freely.
Cut back on sodium – Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure, which can put strain on your arteries and lead to heart attacks and strokes, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
Exercise regularly – 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days can reduce the risk of TIA/stroke.
Limit alcohol consumption and avoid drug use – women should not consume more than one drink per day; Men should drink no more than two drinks a day.
Talk to your doctor about birth control pills – some birth control pills may be more dangerous than others because of hormonal changes; express your concern to them