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 TIAs occur when an embolism or thrombosis blocks blood flow to the brain. They usually last less than 30 minutes and cause 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.

 

What Is a Mini-Stroke?

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.)
 

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).
 
(Click Symptoms of a Mini-Stroke for more information.)
 

Making a Diagnosis

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 Options

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.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD