A mini-stroke, also called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), happens when blood flow to part of the brain is briefly blocked. Symptoms may disappear within minutes or hours, but a TIA can be a warning sign of a possible major stroke and should be taken seriously.
5 signs of a mini-stroke in older adults:
- Sudden weakness or numbness
- Especially in the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body.
- A person may have trouble lifting one arm or notice one side feels different.
- Sudden speech or understanding problems
- Slurred speech, difficulty finding words, confusion, or trouble understanding others.
- Sudden vision changes
- Loss of vision, blurred vision, or double vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
- New coordination problems, stumbling, or feeling unusually unsteady.
- Sudden severe headache or unusual neurological symptoms
- Especially a sudden, intense headache or symptoms that feel different from usual.
Remember FAST:
- F — Face: Is one side of the face drooping?
- A — Arms: Is one arm weak or numb?
- S — Speech: Is speech strange or difficult?
- T — Time: Call emergency services immediately.
Even if symptoms disappear, a person should still be evaluated urgently because the risk of a larger stroke can be higher after a TIA.
If these symptoms are happening now, seek emergency medical help immediately.
