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‘Mini’ health condition more dangerous than scientists previously thought – the 9 symptoms to watch out for
Read on for tips on how to lower your risk of the condition that could cause long-lasting brain damage
A HEALTH condition referred to as a "mini stroke" could be more dangerous than scientists previously thought.
The condition can take a long lasting toll on the brain, a study showed.
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Like strokes, transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) are caused by an interruption in blood supply to the brain, cutting off oxygen to the organ.
But, as the name suggests, the effect of TIAs don't last - sometimes only a few minutes or hours.
Symptoms tend to be gone within 24 hours as blood supply to the brain is resolved.
People experiencing a TIA are still advised to call 999 immediately, as it could serve as a warning sign that they may suffer a full stroke in the near future.
Read more on strokes
But it's been assumed these "mini" health events are less damaging than strokes.
Now, researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham say TIAs may have similar long-lasting effects on the brain.
The study - published to - followed 356 people who experienced their first TIA and 965 who had a first stroke, comparing their results to 14,882 people who had suffered neither health event.
"Results of this cohort study suggest that despite the quick resolution of stroke symptoms in TIA, there was apparently sufficient impact to be associated with long-term cognitive decline," study authors said.
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Cognitive decline can involve having problems with memory and thinking.
Dr Raphael Sacho, director of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, told this new study indicates that patients aren’t out of the woods even if they don't experience a full stroke.
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In the study, people who'd suffered a stroke saw the largest decline to their cognitive abilities following the health emergency.
Meanwhile, TIA patients' symptoms resolved within minutes or hours and they had no memory or thinking problems immediately after the event.
But they too experienced cognitive decline that seemed to increase with the passing of time.
Researchers said: "Our data showed that a stroke was associated with a large decline in cognitive performance over time, but not an increase in the annual rate of cognitive decline.
"Cases of TIA were not associated with an immediate change in cognitive performance after the event but were associated with an increase in the annual rate of decline, comparable with that after a stroke.
"These findings suggest that despite the quick resolution of symptoms and no radiological evidence of injury, TIA appears to be sufficient either directly or indirectly to initiate a pathological process leading to long-term changes in cognition.
"We also found faster rates of overall cognitive decline in people previously free of cognitive impairment who experience a first-time TIA, compared with asymptomatic community controls.
"These findings appeared largely driven by immediate and delayed memory recall declines rather than verbal fluency declines."
How to lower your risk of stroke
You can help prevent stroke by making healthy lifestyle choices and keeping on top of treatment of medical conditions.
Healthy diet
- More fruit and veg: The DASH, which emphasises fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve heart health.
- Less fats: Too much saturated and trans fats can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Go for healthier fats like those found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados.
- Limit salt: High salt intake is linked to high blood pressure, a major risk factor for both heart attack and stroke. The NHS recommends no more than 6g of salt per day for adults.
- Fibre: Foods high in soluble fibre, such as oats and beans, can help lower cholesterol levels.
Exercise
Walking, running, cycling, swimming - whatever you like, do it!
Aerobic exercise can strengthen the heart and improve circulation.
The NHS advises at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week.
Strength training exercises can help control weight, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce blood pressure. It is recommended twice a week by the NHS.
Manage blood pressure
Healthy diet and exercise can help keep your blood pressure in check.
But it is worth monitoring it yourself after the age of 40, at least, when the NHS invites adults for a check-up every five years.
High blood pressure often has no symptoms but significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Check cholesterol
Your cholesterol can be checked through a blood test at your GP's or the free NHS health check.
If you have high cholesterol, medicine and lifestyle changes can help lower your risk for stroke.
Quit smoking
One of the best ways to quit smoking is to use resources provided by NHS Smokefree.
Support groups, medications, and other tools to help quit smoking such as vapes could be what you need to kick the habit for good - and it's free.
Limit booze
Excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and contribute to weight gain, which can snowball and become a heart health risk.
The NHS recommends not regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week.
Researchers also noted that people who'd experienced a TIA where at higher risk of developing dementia in the five years following the incident.
"Our findings suggest that TIA was an independent risk factor for cognitive decline," the concluded.
They suggested that people suffering a so-called ";mini stroke" should receive "more aggressive treatment to minimise cognitive risk".
This was echoed by Dr Sacho, who said that "improving overall cardiovascular health such as blood pressure control, lowering cholesterol and diabetes management are very important"; following a TIA.
9 symptoms of a TIA
TIAs will cause symptoms similar to a stroke, which tend to strike suddenly.
These can be remembered through the acronym FAST:
- Face – your face may have dropped on one side, you may not be able to smile, or your mouth or eye may have drooped.
- Arms – you may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there, because of weakness or numbness in one arm.
- Speech – your speech may be slurred or garbled, or you may not be able to talk at all, despite appearing to be awake; you may also have problems understanding what people are saying to you.
- Time – it's time for someone to call 999 immediately if they notice any of these signs or symptoms in you.
"Mini strokes" can also occasionally cause different symptoms, including:
- Complete paralysis of one side of the body
- Sudden vision loss, blurred vision or double vision
- Vertigo
- Being sick
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Difficulty understanding what others are saying
- Problems with balance and co-ordination
- Difficulty swallowing
You should call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if you or someone else has symptoms of a TIA or stroke.
Even if the symptoms disappear while you're waiting for an ambulance to arrive, you still need to be assessed at hospital and you should be referred to see a specialist within 24 hours of your symptoms starting.
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A TIA is a warning that you're at risk of having a full stroke in the near future, so an assessment can help doctors determine the best way to reduce the chances of this happening.
If you think you've had a TIA previously, but the symptoms have since passed and you did not get medical advice at the time, make an urgent appointment with a GP.
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