CDC Makes Mountain Out of Mini Stroke

CDC says a stroke strikes Americans every 40 seconds & the reality is that many go unnoticed because they are “mini” in nature. Say cardiologists, don’t be fooled by the long or short of it: “Devastating complications” need quick action, regardless of original severity.

As noted by the Fox News story, of course, there are all kinds of strokes, but the “size” doesn’t change the potential seriousness of one. Dr. Karishma Pawa said that’s because every second the brain goes without oxygen, the hallmark of a stroke (e.g., no thanks to a blood clot), it increases the likelihood of serious & permanent brain damage. Moreover, those so-called mini strokes are repeated within a week 5 to 15% of the time, thereby upping the stakes for the victim even further. Need it be said, get to a doctor if you suspect you’ve become a mini-stroke statistic?

As it turns out, the symptoms of a mini-stroke are the same as a maxi-stroke. They include dizziness; numbness (esp on one side of the body); slurred speech; confusion; intense headache; & loss of memory or even consciousness. Not that the above symptoms can’t be explained by other health issues or quickly dissipate – I, for instance, recently woke up with dizziness that turned out to be due to an inner ear infection. Still, certainly if more than one of the common symptoms are recognized, said Dr. Patwa, it’s important to act quickly so physicians can identify the underlying causes & start treatment asap.

Davd Soul