Never Take Chances With Mini-Stroke Symptoms

When you hear the term mini-stroke, you might think it’s no big deal, just a tiny blip in your brain function.

But “mini-stroke” actually is a misnomer.

A more accurate term is a “warning stroke,” according to the American Stroke Association (ASA), and they are no small matter.

Both a mini-stroke (the medical term is transient ischemic attack or TIA) and a full-blown stroke are caused by an interruption in blood flow to the brain, usually from a blood clot.

“The symptoms of a TIA are oftentimes very similar to those of a stroke — these include slurring of words, facial drooping, sudden arm or leg weakness or numbness, and balance problems,” notes Howie Zheng, M.D., a neurologist at The Neurology Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.

Other symptoms may include the sudden onset of confusion, coordination problems, and visual disturbances.

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