Mini-Stroke

"Mini-stroke" is another name for a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a sudden episode in which there is a brief interruption in blood flow to part of the brain. Most mini-strokes occur when an embolism or thrombosis blocks blood flow to the brain. A mini-stroke usually lasts less than 30 minutes and causes symptoms similar to those of a full stroke, such as loss of balance, trouble speaking or understanding speech, and confusion. If you or someone else experiences such symptoms, don't wait for them to go away -- call 911 right away.

 

Mini-Stroke: An Introduction

The term "mini-stroke" refers to a transient ischemic attack (TIA for short). In a mini-stroke, there is a short-term interruption in blood flow to the brain. This causes temporary stroke symptoms (often just for a few minutes), such as weakness or tingling in an arm or leg. Mini-strokes do not cause brain damage, but they are important warning signs that a person is at risk of having a stroke.
 
If you have a mini-stroke, you should seek medical care right away to prevent a full stroke. Of the approximately 50,000 Americans who have a mini-stroke each year, about one-third will have an acute stroke sometime in the future.
 

What Causes a Mini-Stroke?

Mini-stroke causes are the same as those associated with ischemic strokes (see Stroke Causes). The only difference involves timing. By definition, a stroke produces symptoms that last for at least 24 hours. A mini-stroke causes symptoms that improve after a shorter period of time (usually within 30 minutes).
 
A mini-stroke occurs when there is a temporary lack of oxygen- or nutrient-rich blood to a part of the brain. This lack of blood supply is the result of a blood vessel that becomes severely narrowed or blocked.
 
There are several ways in which a blood vessel in the brain may become severely narrowed or blocked; however, most mini-strokes result from an embolism or thrombosis. In an embolism, a blood clot or other tissue from another part of the body (such as the heart) moves through the blood into the neck or brain.
 
Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot (known as a thrombus) forms within a blood vessel of the brain or neck. Unlike an embolism, with thrombosis the blood clot does not break free -- it remains attached to the artery wall.
 
Another way that a blood vessel can become narrowed or blocked involves stenosis. Stenosis, a severe narrowing of an artery, can affect arteries in or leading to the brain. In most cases, stenosis is the result of a plaque buildup on artery walls.
 
(Click Cause of Mini-Strokes for more information on these specific causes.)
 

Mini-Stroke Risk Factors

Risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase your chances of getting a certain disease. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of having a mini-stroke. That's because risk factors tend to "gang up" and worsen each other's effects. Also, the higher your level of each risk factor, the greater your risk of having a mini-stroke. Some mini-stroke risk factors can be treated or controlled and some cannot.
 
Mini-stroke risk factors that you cannot change include:
 
  • Age (risk of a mini-stroke tends to increase with age)
  • Being male
  • Being African American
  • Having a family history of mini-stroke
  • Having had a mini-stroke or heart attack.
     
Some of the most important treatable or controllable risk factors for mini-stroke are:
 
(Click TIA Risk Factors for more information on these specific risk factors.)
 

Mini-Stroke Symptoms

For a person having a mini-stroke, the symptoms will vary depending on which part of the brain is affected. Examples of specific mini-stroke symptoms can include:
 
  • Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, hand, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion
  • Trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes (such as double vision, blurred vision, or blindness)
  • Sudden trouble walking
  • Sudden dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Sudden loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Spinning sensation (vertigo)
  • Sudden collapse
  • Seizures (in a small number of cases).
     
If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing possible symptoms of a mini-stroke, do not wait for the symptoms to worsen or improve. Call 911 immediately. It is impossible for you to know whether these are mini-stroke symptoms or something more serious (e.g., stroke symptoms).
 

Diagnosing a Mini-Stroke

As part of diagnosing a mini-stroke, the healthcare provider will usually ask a number of questions (including questions about the patient's medical history and symptoms) and perform a physical exam. If the healthcare provider believes that a person has had a mini-stroke, he or she may order additional tests to look for possible causes of a mini-stroke or to rule out other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to those seen with a mini-stroke.
 
These tests may include:
 
  • Blood tests (such as tests looking for high cholesterol or diabetes)
  • Computed tomography scan (CAT scan or CT scan)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Carotid Doppler ultrasound
  • Carotid arteriography
  • Cerebral angiography (also known as a cerebral angiogram, cerebral arteriogram, or digital subtraction angiography)
  • Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
  • Transcranial Doppler
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG)
  • Echocardiogram
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Electroencephalography (EEG).
     
(Click TIA Diagnosis for more information about the steps involved in diagnosing a mini-stroke.)
 

Treatment for a Mini-Stroke

Research has shown that people who get treatment for a mini-stroke can significantly decrease their chances for a stroke.
 
Treatment for a mini-stroke may involve the following:
 
(Click Mini-Stroke Treatment for more information on these treatment options for a mini-stroke.)
 

Mini-Stroke Prevention

A person can lower his or her chances of having a mini-stroke by understanding the risk factors for it, and then using that knowledge to make good decisions to control mini-stroke risk factors.
 
Why is mini-stroke prevention important? Because one-third of people who have a mini-stroke will go on to have a stroke within five years, and effective treatment of mini-stroke risk factors can significantly reduce this risk.
 
The steps for effective mini-stroke prevention usually involve:
 
  • Knowing your mini-stroke risk factors
  • Monitoring your health and making lifestyle changes
  • Possibly taking medication or having a procedure
  • Knowing signs of a mini-stroke or stroke (see Stroke Symptoms).
     
(Click TIA Prevention to learn more about preventing a mini-stroke.)
 
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD