Strokes represent a significant health concern in the US, affecting nearly 800,000 individuals annually. To put that into perspective, a stroke happens roughly every 40 seconds in the country.
Those statistics can be alarming, particularly for people with a family history of strokes or those facing risk factors like high blood pressure and specific heart conditions.
However, it’s possible to prepare yourself better by recognizing stroke symptoms and understanding the associated risks, which can, in turn, help you avoid experiencing one.
Dr. Brandon Giglio, who leads vascular neurology at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn, shares that about 85% of strokes in the U.S. are ischemic strokes, resulting from restricted blood flow to the brain. The remaining 15% are hemorrhagic strokes, caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain.
Interestingly, many individuals who suffer strokes might have already experienced warning strokes days, weeks, or even months prior.
Warning strokes are medically termed transient ischemic attacks.
Many outside the medical field aren’t aware that warning strokes, or transient ischemic attacks, are brief yet serious conditions that could precede full strokes.
Dr. Ahmed Itrat, the stroke medical director at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, notes that up to 20% of those who endure a warning stroke might face a full stroke within 90 days without seeking medical care.
So, what defines a warning stroke? As Dr. Itrat explains, it’s a transient ischemic attack that presents sudden, short-lived neurological symptoms that resolve without permanent damage. Think of it as experiencing symptoms akin to those of a stroke, just without the lasting injury.
Despite the lack of lasting brain damage, transient ischemic attacks are still significant medical events requiring serious attention, according to Dr. Giglio. He emphasizes that they often signal an impending stroke, sometimes within a couple of days, but definitely within 90 days.
Though they are frequently called “ministrokes,” Dr. Joshua Willey, a stroke expert at Columbia University, argues that this label downplays the urgency of the condition. He believes the term “warning strokes” better reflects their critical nature, similar to that of a conventional stroke.
The signs of transient ischemic attacks mirror those of strokes.
Dr. Giglio mentions that the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack are essentially the same as those of a stroke.
All three experts interviewed refer to the “BE FAST” mnemonic as a well-recognized guide to identifying stroke symptoms. The key point here is that these symptoms often appear rapidly.
Here’s what BE FAST stands for:
- Balance — issues with balance or a loss of stability.
- Eyesight — problems with vision, such as blurriness or double vision.
- Facial droop — asymmetry in the face or a crooked smile.
- Arm — weakness in one arm.
- Speech — slurred or confusing speech.
- Time — an indicator to call for emergency help; it can also refer to sudden, severe headaches.
Dr. Giglio points out that you might experience all these symptoms, just one, or some combination. So, don’t hesitate if you notice any signs. It’s crucial to head to the emergency room immediately.
