The good news is you absolutely can live a full life after a mini-stroke. Here's how. Like strokes, mini-strokes occur when a blockage occurs in a major artery to your brain, disrupting the flow of blood and oxygen. The difference is in a mini-stroke, the disruption lasts only minutes, so there's no permanent damage.
A person's life expectancy after a mini stroke reduces by around 4% in the first year following the attack in comparison to people who have not had one. In the following 9 years, life expectancy reduces by 20%. These statistics come from a 2019 review .
Around 70%reported that their TIA had long- term effects including memory loss, poor mobility, problems with speech and difficulty in understanding. 60%of people stated that their TIA had affected them emotionally. There is no way to tell whether a person is having a TIA or a stroke when the symptoms first start.
You may have more than one TIA , and the recurrent signs and symptoms may be similar or different depending on which area of the brain is involved.
A person who experiences a TIA may have a 10-20 percent risk of having a full stroke in the next seven days depending on the cause, Streib said. The American Stroke Association confirms that 9 to 17 percent of people who have had a TIA have a stroke within 90 days.
Most people, and even many doctors, don't realize that the risk of a second stroke is as high as 12.8 percent in the first week after a TIA (transient ischemic attack). If you do not change certain lifestyle factors, the risk of a second stroke within the next five years can be as high as 30 percent.
You should be referred to see a specialist within 24 hours of the onset of your symptoms. A TIA is a warning sign that you may be at risk of having a full stroke in the near future, and an assessment can help doctors determine the best way to reduce the chances of that happening.
The short answer is yes; the brain can heal after acute trauma from a stroke or brain injury, although the degree of recovery will vary. The reason the brain can recover at all is through neuroplasticity, sometimes referred to as brain plasticity.
If the person researches what causes mini-strokes, they will discover that 90 percent are caused by plaque-filled blood vessels blocking the blood flow to the brain or by a blood clot that travels from other parts of your body — like the heart — to the brain.
For example, 79% of people survive 2 years, 61% survive 3 years, …, 5% survive 16 years, and only 1% survive 20 years.
However, some people were left with some residual (on-going) symptoms that lasted a few weeks, and some people continued to experience some symptoms for a while afterwards. Commonly these included arm and limb weakness or numbness, slurred speech, memory problems, confusion and visual difficulties.
Chronic stress can indirectly cause a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack or mini stroke). For instance, chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, which is a known risk factor for stroke and heart disease. Stress can also cause inflammation in the arteries all over the body.
"Mini Strokes" - in 40s and 50s
The likelihood of stroke increases with age, doubling for every decade after age 55, one-third of strokes occur in people younger than 65, with particular risk in young and middle aged women. In fact, women 45 to 54 years of age are more than twice as likely as men to have a stroke.
Managing blood pressure levels, reducing or quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and regular physical activity will reduce the risk of a second stroke, along with managing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
The brain damage that occurs with a stroke or a ministroke (transient ischemic attack) may increase your risk of developing dementia.
It is important to be evaluated as soon as possible following a mini stroke, because you may require emergency treatment in order to prevent or minimize irreversible damage. However, not every patient will need immediate intervention, and you may be referred to a specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or mini strokes occur when blood flow to the brain, spinal cord, or retina is interrupted. Most mini stroke signs last only for a few minutes, with a full recovery in about an hour. In some cases, they can last for up to 24 hours, though such long-lasting symptoms are rare.
Alcohol and wellbeing after a stroke
If you've had a stroke, you may be more vulnerable to the negative effects that alcohol can have. If you're sleeping badly, have poor balance or speech problems, alcohol could make these worse. Alcohol can also worsen mood swings and depression, which are common after stroke.
Changes in your emotions and to your personality are common after stroke. It's very normal to experience strong emotions after stroke, however these emotional reactions usually get better with time. Longer-term emotional and personality changes can be very challenging.
Although a TIA should not have a long-term impact on your daily activities, you must stop driving immediately. If your doctor is happy that you have made a good recovery and there are no lasting effects after 1 month, you can start driving again.
Stress can cause the heart to work harder, increase blood pressure, and increase sugar and fat levels in the blood. These things, in turn, can increase the risk of clots forming and travelling to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms: You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not.