THERE are a few key stroke symptoms most of us know to watch out for – a droopy face and slurred speech being the main two.
But did you know there are some warning signs which may emerge weeks before an actual stroke occurs?
GettyThrough a ‘mini stroke’ may only last seconds or minutes you should never dismiss them[/caption]
Temporarily struggling to lift one or both arms when doing daily activities like cooking, could indicate the onset of a condition known as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – also called a ‘mini stroke’ or a ‘warning stroke’.
According to the Stroke Association, its symptoms are similar to what one would consider a stroke.
TIA symptoms also include:
sudden vision loss, blurred vision or double visionvertigobeing sickdizzinessconfusiondifficulty understanding what others are sayingproblems with balance and co-ordination
The only difference is the symptoms don’t last very long and it doesn’t lead to a permanent neurological injury, the charity explained.
This is because the blockage that stops the blood getting to your brain is temporary.
But people who experience a TIA often go on to have a full-blown stroke – a serious life-threatening medical condition where the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off – in the days or weeks following.
“The effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours,” NHS guidance stated.
Through a ‘mini stroke’ may only last seconds or minutes, the body says that you should never dismiss them because of how quickly they go away.
More than 100,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK and they’re responsible for over 38,000 deaths, according to Stroke Action.
Meanwhile, there are 1.3million people living in the UK who have survived a stroke – many living with disabilities.
What are the 4 symptoms of stroke you must know?
You can use the FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – to identify is someone is having a stroke:
F = Face drooping – if one side of a person’s face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it’s uneven, you should seek medical help.
A = Arm weakness – if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards, it could signify stroke
S = Speech difficulty – if a person’s speech is slurred this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 – if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999
Other stroke symptoms include:
sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
difficulty finding words
sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
a sudden and severe headache
difficulty understanding what others are saying
difficulty swallowing
Ischaemic stroke, the most common form of the condition, occurs when a blood clot prevents the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
This is typically caused by arteries becoming narrower over time
What do to if you experience a warning stroke?
Firstly, if you think you’ve experienced a warning stroke, you should seek medical help immediately.
“It’s important to call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if you or someone else has symptoms of a TIA or stroke,” NHS guidance said.
You should also take aspirin straight away if you or someone else suspects you’re having a TIA.
Even if the symptoms disappear while you’re waiting for an ambulance to arrive, you still need to be assessed in hospital, the NHS emphasised.
If you think you may have had a TIA previously, but you didn’t seek medical advice at the time, make an urgent appointment with a GP, it added.
Treatment will vary according to your age and medical history, but you’re likely to be given advice about lifestyle changes that can reduce your stroke risk, and be offered medicine to treat the cause of the TIA.