6 Early Warning Signs of a Ministroke

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Ministrokes are brief episodes of low blood flow to the brain that resolve on their own. They are also called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). TIAs resolve on their own within 5 to 10 minutes but can also last as long as 24 hours.

They don't cause lasting damage to the brain. But they are an important warning that you are at high risk of developing a stroke in the near future.

The symptoms of a stroke and ministroke are often the same. So it's important to get care right away if you're experiencing ministroke symptoms. Here are six early warning signs of a ministroke you don't want to miss.

What causes ministrokes (transient ischemic attacks)?

Ministrokes develop when blood flow to the brain gets blocked, usually because a blood clot is partially blocking a blood vessel (artery).

The difference between a ministroke and a stroke is that with a TIA, the clot dissolves or moves on from where it was blocking blood flow. Some medical conditions increase the risk of developing a ministroke like:

• Atrial fibrillation

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Diabetes

Smoking can also increase your risk of developing a ministroke because smoking injures blood vessels.

What are the early signs of a ministroke?

Ministroke symptoms come on all of a sudden. The following are common early symptoms of a TIA.

1. One-sided weakness

Low blood flow to the brain causes weakness on one side of the face and body (like the arm or leg). You may notice weakness in just your face, arm, or leg - or all three.

If you experience facial weakness, you may notice:

• Drooling

• Trouble holding liquid in your mouth after taking a drink

• Speech slurring

If you experience arm weakness, you may:

• Drop things because you can't hold onto them

• Have trouble holding a cup or other objects

• Have trouble lifting your arm

If you experience leg weakness, you may:

• Notice that your foot drags when you walk

• Have trouble rising from sitting to standing

• Have trouble standing and maintaining your balance

You may also notice numbness on one side of your body. This can feel like pins and needles along one side of your body. You may also feel completely numb.

2. Speech changes

You can experience speech changes if you develop a blockage in one of the blood vessels that leads to the speech center of your brain. Speech changes vary from person to person and may include:

• Slurred speech

• Difficulty finding words

• Saying words that don't make sense in the situation

• Making sounds that others can't understand as words

Some people are unable to speak at all or form any sounds when they experience a ministroke.

3. Confusion

You can also experience confusion if you have a blockage in a blood vessel that leads to your speech center. This affects your ability to understand language as well as speak. People experiencing a ministroke may have trouble understanding what others are saying to them. This can make them seem confused and disoriented.

They might also:

• Not know where they are

• Not be able to use common objects, like a spoon

• Not be able to follow directions

Keep in mind that people may not be able to describe what they're experiencing because of confusion. If you notice that a loved one suddenly seems disoriented, it could be a sign of a ministroke.

4. Vision changes

People can develop vision changes because of a ministroke. This happens when a blood vessel that leads to the vision center of the brain gets blocked. They might also develop double vision if there's less blood flow to the part of the brain that coordinates eye movement. Common vision changes that can develop with a ministroke include:

• Double vision

• Blurred vision

• Complete vision loss

These vision changes can develop in one or both eyes. They usually start all of a sudden and are not painful.

5. Dizziness or balance problems

Dizziness and balance problems can develop when there's less blood flow to the coordination center of the brain. As a result, people can't sense where they are or how their body is moving through space. People describe feeling dizzy or like the room is spinning around them.

They may also walk into walls or doorways. Many people have trouble walking in a straight line or standing up straight. Some people are not able to hold their trunk steady when they are sitting down.

6. Headache

Up to 1 in 3 people experiencing a TIA develop headaches. But keep in mind that headaches are very common and can be triggered by many different things. A headache on its own is unlikely to be from a ministroke.

What should you do if you think you're having a ministroke?

You should call 911 and get immediate medical care if you think you're having a ministroke. It's impossible to tell if you're having a ministroke or stroke based on just your symptoms. If you're having a stroke, you need to get care right away because strokes are life-threatening.

If a loved one develops symptoms of a ministroke, get help right away. Don't wait to see if their symptoms get better or go away.

Healthcare professionals can get imaging studies, which will show if someone is having a stroke or a ministroke. They can also do other tests to see if your symptoms are from another medical condition.

If you're having a ministroke, you'll likely need other specialized tests to check the health of the blood vessels in your brain. TIAs will get better on their own, but they are a warning sign that you are at higher risk for developing a stroke in the future.

In fact, 1 in 5 people who experience a ministroke develop a stroke within 90 days. Your healthcare team can help you find the right treatments to lower your risk of developing a stroke in the future.

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