Contrary to popular notion, stroke does not come without a warning since doctors discovered that weeks prior to an attack, a patient is most likely to experience several, mini attacks—small enough to get disregarded by a busy senior.
If you are predisposed to stroke, it is important that you educate yourself of these mini attacks since they are considered as warning signs by your doctors. Knowing and heeding these signs will help you avoid a major attack from happening.
Do note that mini attacks—or transient ischemic attacks, as your doctor will call them—occur when you are awake and alert. They usually are temporary, and they pass. While transient ischemic attacks usually causes no permanent damage, it is best to seek medical help at once since you can never be sure when a major attack will happen.
Similar to a stroke, common symptoms of mini-attacks are:
• Numbness, weakness or even paralysis on one side of your body. It can be your face, arm or leg or the whole side of the body.
• Tingling sensation on one side of your body, partial or complete.
• Sudden, severe headache
• Blurring of the eyesight.
• Dizziness.
• Loss of balance.
• Slurring of words or difficulty in speaking.
• Confusion or having trouble in understanding spoken words.
A mini-attack is most likely to stop after these manifestations. On the other hand, a major attack will cause a senior to lose consciousness after having these symptoms so doctors strongly advise that you treat these symptoms seriously—TIA or not TIA! Stroke is considered as an emergency, if you are experiencing these symptoms or you suspect a senior having one, seek medical help immediately.
Do take note of these mini-attacks too, that is take note of the time and intervals between attacks. Timing is very important in preventing a major attack from happening and the earlier your doctor recognize the signs and diagnose your condition, the better are your chances of surviving the condition fairly unscathed. Treatments and drugs are more advanced today especially those dealing with stroke, if treated early on, you may even save yourself from long-term disability.
To know more about stroke or would like to find a support group near you, visit the American Stroke Association website.
