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| 14 Signs and Symptoms of Stroke ( courtecy;- medicineNet.com ) |
Acting fast is critical if you suspect someone is having a stroke. Immediate treatment can minimize long-term effects
Stroke vs. Mini-Stroke (TIA)
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to an area of the brain is cut off. The symptoms depend upon the region of the brain that is affected by the loss of blood supply and can include changes in sensation or motor control.
Symptoms of a stroke also depend on how much of the brain tissue is deprived of blood supply. For example, someone who had a mild stroke may experience temporary weakness of an arm or leg, but those with a more severe stroke may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or be unable to speak. If the blood supply is not quickly restored, either on its own or via medical treatment, the effects may be permanent.
Some people fully recover completely from strokes, but over 2/3 of stroke survivors are left with some type of disability.
Recognizing stroke symptoms and signs early - FAST
Acting fast is critical if you suspect that someone may be having a stroke. Immediate treatment of a stroke can minimize long-term effects of the stroke and can even help reduce a person's risk of death from stroke.
FAST is an acronym that can help you quickly recognize the warning signs and symptoms of stroke. You can even download a FAST app from the webpage of the American Stroke Association to help you remember these signs.
What are FAST stroke symptoms and signs?
Use FAST to remember and recognize the following signs and symptoms of stroke:
- F: Face drooping. Ask the person to smile, and see if one side is drooping. One side of the face may also be numb, and the smile may appear uneven.
- A: Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Is there weakness or numbness on one side? One arm drifting downward is a sign of one-sided arm weakness.
- S: Speech difficulty. People having a stroke may slur their speech or have trouble speaking at all. Speech may be incomprehensible. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence and look for any speech abnormality.
- T: Time to call 9-1-1! If a person shows any of the symptoms above, even if the symptoms went away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to a hospital immediately.
What are other signs and symptoms of stroke in men and women?
While these are the hallmark symptoms of stroke, a stroke can cause disruption of any function of the nervous system. Symptoms of stroke typically occur on one side of the body and come on suddenly. With a transient ischemic attack (sometimes called a mini-stroke) the symptoms appear and may go away on their own. In any case, it is essential to get the affected person to a hospital as soon as possible to enable prompt treatment.
Other possible signs and symptoms of stroke include the sudden onset of:
- Weakness or paralysis of any part of the body.
- Numbness or a "pins and needles" sensation anywhere in the body.
- Gait disturbances (trouble walking) or loss of balance and coordination
- Vision changes, blurred vision, or trouble with eyesight in one or both eyes
- Dizziness
- Severe headache that usually is unlike headaches in the past
- Confusion
- Inability to speak, slurred speech, or inability to understand speech
- Loss of sensation in any part of the body
- Memory loss
- Behavioral changes
- Muscle stiffness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Involuntary eye movements
What are the signs and symptoms of a mini-stroke (TIA, transient ischemic attack)
The symptoms of a TIA or mini-stroke are the same as those of a stroke as listed above. With a mini-stroke, the symptoms go away on their own. Any symptoms of a stroke can occur during a mini-stroke.
What should I do if someone is exhibiting signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Remember to think and act FAST (Face drooping; Arm weakness; Speech difficulty; and Time to call 911!) if you see someone who may be having these symptoms. Don't delay and call 9-1-1 immediately. You may help save a life or reduce the chance of long-term disability.
Which specialties of doctors treat strokes?
A person who is having a stroke is typically cared for in an emergency department, and initially seen by a specialist in emergency medicine. Doctors that are typically involved in the care of patients with stroke can include neurologists, endovascular surgical neuroradiology (ESNR) specialists, interventional radiologists (IR), interventional cardiologists (IC), and critical care specialists.
Medically Reviewed on 11/22/2017
References
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Stroke vs. mini-stroke (TIA) quick comparison between differences
- Mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack, TIA) and stroke usually are caused by blockage of an artery in the brain, and less often by bleeding into the brain tissue.
- Strokes usually are classified as either ischemic or hemorrhagic.
- The causes of strokes and min-strokes (transient ischemic attack, TIA) are the same, however, blood flow leakage or blockage is temporary in mini-strokes, and blood flow returns spontaneously. In most strokes, blood flow does not return spontaneously.
- The majority of mini-strokes produce symptoms that are temporary, while the majority of strokes produce symptoms that are often long lasting, and cause permanent disability.
- Symptoms of a mini stroke may include one or more of the following:
- Weakness or numbness in your arms and/or legs, usually on one side of the body
- Dysphasia (difficulty speaking)
- Dizziness
- Vision changes
- Tingling (paresthesias)
- Abnormal taste and/or smells
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Altered consciousness and/or passing out
- Symptoms of a stroke include those of a mini-stroke, but the symptoms do not resolve.
- Treatment for mini-stroke usually is medication to reduce blood clot risk, reduction of other risk factors (smoking, for example) and follow-up to consider surgery if the cause is an aneurysm that occasionally slowly leaks blood.
- A stroke is a medical emergency and treatment depends upon the type of stroke. A stroke caused by a blood clot (ischemic) is treated with clot busting drugs or mechanical. Hemorrhagic (bleeding into brain tissue) stroke requires life-saving surgery, performed by a neurosurgeon.
- Mini-strokes symptoms are short-term that resolve, while strokes often produce long-term symptoms (disabilities).
- In mini-strokes, normal function returns quickly, but with strokes, normal function may never return.
- Recovery of normal function occurs quickly in mini-strokes, but strokes usually have an extended time for recovery that includes therapy.
- In mini-strokes blood flow returns spontaneously (the body resolves the blockage and/or leakage) and causes little or no damage to brain cells, whereas strokes do not have spontaneous blood flow return (the body does not resolve the blockage and/or leakage) and brain cells are permanently damaged and/or destroyed.
- Damage from a stroke is permanent, and an individual may never regain normal function of the part of the body affected.
- Other terms for stroke include cerebral vascular accident (CVA). Other terms for mini stroke include TIA, transient ischemic attack, and mini-stroke.
7 Stroke Warning Signs
Symptoms of stroke depend upon what part of the brain has stopped working due to loss of its blood supply. Often, a person having a stroke may have multiple symptoms including double vision, vertigo, and numbness on one half or part of the body.
If you think you or someone you are with is having a stroke call 911 immediately for medical help.
What is a stroke? What is a mini-stroke (TIA)? What are the causes?
A stroke occurs when brain tissue becomes deprived of oxygen resulting in malfunction of the brain, and brain tissue is damaged or destroyed. A stroke usually is due to either blockage (ischemic) or leakage (hemorrhage) of blood flow by an artery that supplies oxygen rich blood to areas in the brain. If the extent of brain tissue damage is large, the person may die. A stroke is a medical emergency. It is the fifth most common cause of death in the US.
A subset of strokes is termed a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or “mini-stroke.” In a mini-stroke, brain cells are dysfunctional for short period of time and produce symptoms similar to stroke. However, mini- stroke symptoms and signs usually are resolved within a short time (minutes to hours) (usually because the brain’s arteries involved are only blocked, or may leak blood into the brain, intermittently).
Which is the worst type of stroke?
The answer to this question depends upon several factors. Many doctors would conclude that a large hemorrhagic stroke is the worst kind of stroke because they often are untreatable, and cause devastating damage to the brain from which there is little or no recovery. However, other types of strokes, for example, a blood clot in the brain, also can have similar devastating consequences. These strokes can result in disability and death just like hemorrhagic strokes. Some people consider being unable to care for themselves as a fate worse than death, and would say that survival with extreme disabilities (cannot feed themselves, unable to talk, cannot do any personal hygiene, for example) is the worst kind of stroke. Perhaps the worst kind of stroke is the one that occurs in yourself or your loved one, no matter to what extent is the disability.
What are the warning signs and symptoms of stroke vs. mini-stroke?
Warning signs and symptoms of a stroke and mini-stroke are the same, and include:
- Weakness or numbness in your arms and/or legs, usually on one side of the body
- Dysphasia (difficulty speaking)
- Dizziness
- Vision changes
- Tingling (paresthesias)
- Abnormal taste and/or smells
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Altered consciousness and/or passing out
How can you tell if a person is having a stroke or mini-stroke (FAST)?
The term “ FAST” is an easy way to help determine if a person is having a stroke or mini-stroke, and what you should do. FAST applies to both mini-strokes and strokes. The National Stroke Association and other organizations suggest that you use FAST as a way to remember what to look for, and what to do if a person develops any of these warning signs and symptoms of a stroke or mini-stroke.
- F stands for face. Ask the person to smile, if one side of the face droops, it is a warning sign.
- A stands for arms. Ask the person to lift both arms, if one arm drifts down or has difficulty moving, it is a warning sign.
- S stands for speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase, if the speech is slurred or odd, it is a warning sign.
- T stands for time: If a person develops any of the warning signs, it is time to call 911 and have he or she evaluated for a stroke and/or mini-stroke at an emergency department.
How long do the symptoms of stroke vs. mini-stroke last?
Stroke symptoms typically last more than 24 hours, and may or may not resolve, even with therapy. Some stroke symptoms may never resolve or get better.
TIA symptoms last for a short time. Symptoms can begin to resolve in about one to five minutes, which is typical, but some may take about 24 hours to resolve.
Which side effects of stroke vs. mini-stroke are the same?
The after/side effects of stroke and mini-strokes can be the same, especially immediately after any symptoms develop, and can include:
- Numbness or weakness of the face, arms and/or legs, often the weakness is only on one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Abrupt loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance and/or coordination
- Confusion
What are the differences between the side effects of stroke vs. mini-stroke?
All of the signs and symptoms of mini-strokes usually resolve within five minutes; a few people resolve in less than 24 hours.
Stroke side effects and symptoms last longer than 24 hours. Some may last a lifetime. The early symptoms of stroke may resolve partially, or never. When this happens, other signs and symptoms such as depression, muscle atrophy (muscle loss), and worsening of early symptoms may progress over time.
Can a mini-stroke lead to other types of strokes?
TIAs or mini-strokes are considered by the American Stroke Association to be major warning signs of a stroke. For example, about 7% to 40% of individuals experiencing a stroke report having a TIA sometime before their first stroke. Moreover, about one third of people that have a mini-stroke have a stroke within a year after their mini-stroke.
What is the treatment for stroke vs. mini-stroke?
Strokes and mini-strokes are not treated exactly the same. Strokes are a medical emergency. Treatment for a stroke begins with a CT scan of the brain to help determine the difference between a blood clot in the brain or an artery rupture and hemorrhage. The type of treatment then depends upon the type of stroke.
A mini-stroke also is a medical emergency. However, by the time the person receives medical care, the mini-stroke symptoms may have resolved, or are resolving. Hospitalization for TIA may be necessary for additional tests, and prescription medication and/or surgery may be necessary depending upon the cause.
Mini-strokes may predict that an individual may (up to 40% chance) have a stroke within a year of the TIA.
What is the recovery and prognosis for stroke vs. mini-stroke?
Mini-strokes or TIAs resolve spontaneously, and the individual recovers normal function quickly, usually within a few minutes up to about 24 hours without medical treatment. The prognosis for TIA is very good; however, TIAs frequently (up to 40%) are the way of telling you that in the next year you may have a stroke.
The recovery and prognosis for a stroke is quite variable. Early treatment may increase recovery and improve prognosis. Unfortunately, the prognosis and recovery decline if a stroke is severe (a large area of brain tissue is damaged and/or dies) or the symptoms are present for more than a few hours and the individual is outside of the window for treatment.
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