​1 In 3 Americans May Have Had A Mini Stroke—And 97% Did Nothing About It

          
By Christa Sgobba, Prevention
       

Strokes aren't only a health concern for older women—in fact, more than 100,000 women under the age of 65 will have a stroke each year.
  
Prompt treatment is vital to preventing long-term damage, but lots of people don't get treatment. Now, a new survey sheds further light on the scope of the problem: An alarming number of Americans may have had a mini-stroke—but didn't recognize it, a new survey from the American Heart Association suggests.

[post_ads]After surveying 2,040 adults, the researchers discovered that 35% of them experienced at least one sign of a mini-stroke, officially called a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. TIAs are caused by a temporary blockage in the brain, and generally don't cause any permanent damage, but they can herald a full-blown stroke in the near future.

Here are the most common symptoms of mini-stroke that people experienced, lasting from a few minutes up until 24 hours:

• 20% reported a sudden and unexplained headache
• 14% reported sudden and unexplained trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• 10% reported sudden and unexplained numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
• 10% reported sudden and unexplained trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• 5% reported sudden and unexplained confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

After experiencing these symptoms, only 3% of the people called 911, the survey found. More commonly, they simply waited until the symptoms went away, rested, or took some kind of medicine.

Not a smart strategy: The same signs of mini-stroke can point to a full-blown stroke, too.

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"Ignoring any stroke sign could be a deadly mistake," said American Stroke Association chairman Mitch Elkind, MD, in a news release. "Only a formal medical diagnosis with brain imaging can determine whether you're having a TIA or a stroke."

Swift diagnosis of stroke is important for treatment and recovery, and quick detection of mini-stroke is vital, too. Because you're at higher risk of a full-blown stroke, your doctor will work with you on prevention factors, which can include lifestyle changes or anti-clotting drugs.

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