From Transient Ischemic Attack to Full Stroke: Don't Just Shrug the Symptoms Off

What's the difference between a partial stroke and a full stroke? The adjectives "partial" and "full" should serve as indications - they differ in the extent and severity of the harm or injury they do to the brain. Specifically in a partial stroke, a small artery, which supplies blood to the brain, either hemorrhages or becomes blocked. The consequent break in the continuity of blood flow damages a small part of the brain, causing symptoms that are less severe than in a full stroke. But in a full stroke, a major artery to the brain is involved, and the resulting damage is quite extensive. If there is any similarity between these two kinds of stroke, it is that their symptoms last for about a day, and often continue to exist much longer.

There is another condition that can cause symptoms much like those of stroke, except that its symptoms persist for only a few seconds or minutes. This condition is called transient ischemic attack, or TIA. Its symptoms occur as a result of a momentary loss of blood supply to a part of the nervous system. Although the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack may exist briefly, they may be signs that a full stroke is imminent.

The symptoms of a transient ischemic attack pass quickly, usually in a matter of minutes or even just a few seconds. At worst, they may last for an entire day. Some of the signs of a transient ischemic attack that you have to watch out for include a feeling of weakness or numbness in some part of your body and difficulty in seeing, hearing, or uttering words. Inasmuch as, again, these symptoms quickly come and go, you might be lured into thinking that they are inconsequential. Be warned that if you simply brush aside the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack, you may be putting yourself at risk to an impending full stroke.

A sudden, albeit temporary, deficiency of blood supply to a part of the brain causes transient ischemic attack. Statistics indicate that about a third of all people who experience a brief episode of transient ischemic attack suffer a more serious stroke, as a full stroke, at some later time. If you feel that you have sustained the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack, notify your doctor at once in order that you can receive immediate treatment or timely advice on how best to reduce your risks of suffering a full stroke.

You have to remember that an elevated blood pressure is a threat to the stability of the arterial walls and it can increase the possibility of the breaking apart of an artery. Your doctor, in this regard, may advise you to lower your blood pressure, in case it is too high, by asking you to reduce your intake of foods high in fats, salt, and cholesterol. These substances are notorious for contributing to the occurrence of atherosclerosis, a condition that debilitates the walls of the arteries and causes the development of clots.

Those who are overweight may be asked to shed some poundage as this can also help in reducing blood pressure. Your doctor may also prescribe certain drugs, or suggest regular small dose of aspirin, which may help to lessen the risks of suffering a full stroke. [Read the Original Article]