Aspirin One of Treatment for a Mini Stroke

Figure 1. Aspirin as one of treatment for a mini stroke 

Treatment for a mini stroke is very important. Since the stroke occurs as a result of a blood clot mainly, doctors usually prescribe anticoagulants like aspirin initially to treat the condition of a mini stroke patient.

Aspirin is the drug of choice to prevent future a mini stroke. Aspirin makes

platelets less sticky and prevents clot formation. It works on the quality of the blood and makes it thin in consistency. Watery blood cannot form clots and so the normal flow of

blood is maintained. To treat a mini stroke, a milder dosage of drug like aspirin is used. Usually strong medication is usually avoided.

For long term consumption for patient who has a mini stroke, aspirin has undesirable side effects of aspirin are gastrointestinal ulcers, stomach bleeding, and tinnitus (the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound), especially in higher doses.

Aspirin as one of treatment for a mini stroke has many potential side effects and therefore must be used carefully. Like most powerful drugs, an overdose of aspirin or salicylates can be fatal. If a child or adult takes an overdose of aspirin, induce vomiting to empty the unabsorbed medication from the stomach (if the person who has a mini stroke is still awake and conscious). Obtain emergency medical care right away.

The most common side effects for a mini stroke who consume aspirin are heartburn and other symptoms of stomach irritation such as indigestion, pain, nausea, and vomiting. The stomach irritation may lead to bleeding from the stomach, which may cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding manifested by vomiting of either bright red blood or coffee ground like material which is an indicator of partially digested blood. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding can also present with tarry black stools.

A mini stroke patients on either of these drugs need to be carefully monitored and be prepared for the possibility of side effect. Sometimes we think to give the best for our lovely family but we have to aware about side effects occurred.

Prevention of a mini stroke

Prevention of a mini stroke

Prevention of  a mini stroke can be done by eliminating some risks like smoking, and minimize others like poorly controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol than can be cause of a mini stroke.

The National Stroke Association "Stroke Prevention Guidelines" advise patients to:

• Know your blood pressure, have it checked at least once a year
• Find out if you have arterial fibrillation, which encourages the formation of blood clots that could cause a mini stroke
• Stop smoking. Cigarette smoking is linked to increased risk for a stroke
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation
• Find out if you have high cholesterol
• If you have diabetes, take measures to control the condition
• Include exercise in your daily routine
• Eat a low-salt diet
• Ask your physician if you have circulation problems that could increase the risk of stroke and
• If you experience any signs of mini stroke, including sudden weakness of the face or a limb, a blurring of vision, dizziness, or an intense headache, seek immediate medical attention.

There are several lifestyle changes that can reduce the chance of a mini stroke. Diet and exercise are important for keeping a mini stroke victims in good health. Recommend exercise that can be incorporated into everyday life, such as brisk walking, using stairs and cycling. Common sense dictates that moderate exercise makes the heart stronger and improves circulation. It also helps control weight. Being overweight increases the chance of high blood pressure. Moderate physical activities like walking, jumping on a mini-trampoline, cycling, yoga, swimming, and yard work lower the risk of both a mini stroke and heart disease.

Cause of a mini stroke

The cause of a mini stroke involves a lack of blood flow to the brain that occurs because a blood vessel becomes narrowed or blocked. Blood clots in the tiny arteries of the brain can lead to a mini stroke. Usually clots form only after the arteries start narrowing due to fatty deposits known as plaque. This condition is known as atherosclerosis and blood clot usually forms when the plaque ruptures from the surrounding artery wall.

Following is a list of common causes of a mini stroke:

§         Hypertension also known as high blood pressure can be one of dominant cause of a mini stroke.

§         Diabetes mellitus is a failure or reduction in the body's ability to handle sugar.

§         High cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia, is a very common condition in which the level of total cholesterol in the blood is higher than normal. High cholesterol is a serious condition and increases the risk of developing such life-threatening diseases as heart disease, a mini stroke, and heart attack.

§         Migraine is a debilitating condition characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea.

§         Stress can cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure puts a lot of stress on the arteries and can cause hemorrhaging which can lead to be cause of a mini stroke.

There are many things we can do to reduce the chances of it happening to us. Even with all the medical advances it still holds true that prevention is better than cure. Controlling blood pressure and lowering cholesterol are one of way to reduce cause of mini stroke. If at all possible prevention of a mini stroke is far and away the best option. With weight loss, healthy eating, stopping smoking and exercise you can make a surprising difference.

Signs of a Mini Stroke

Signs of a mini stroke can be quite similar to those of a full stroke, and as such it is important to seek medical attention right away to determine the extent of the condition. Sign of a mini stroke vary based on which blood vessel gets clogged. The part of the body which shows the signs of a mini stroke depends upon which part of the brain (the part which controls that particular body part) is facing a lack of blood supply.

It is important that we understand signs of a mini stroke that not everyone who suffers a mini stroke with show the same signs. Typically, the signs will begin very suddenly and may also vary depending on the specific part of the brain that is being affected. A mini stroke in an area of the brain that is not used for daily functioning may show no symptoms at all while one that is affecting brain regions that are heavily used may cause you to become completely debilitated.

Signs of a mini stroke may be subtle or obvious, some of the most common mini stroke symptoms are:

1)     Weakness/numbness on one side of the body. Sometimes face, legs and arms on one side feel weaker than the other.

2)     Inability to understand  what another person is speaking. Sometimes if the blood is not flowing to the brain, it results in temporary incomprehension.

3)     Speech Problems - You might think you are talking but nothing is coming out or you may not be coherent.

4)     Sudden forgetfulness- Everybody does this sometimes, but if you forget what you are doing and are surprised about your current location/activity/surroundings, this could be a sign of a mini stroke.

5)     They experience dizziness, cannot walk and may fall.

6)     Many also experience double or blurry vision when having a mini stroke.

7)     Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

It is important to take action to curb it in order to protect yourself from recurrence of stroke in future. Experiencing signs of mini stroke are a lucky warning so that you may avoid a bigger problem in future. Act on it as soon as you can.

What is a Mini Stroke?

A mini stroke, also called a Transient Ischemic Attack or (TIA), happens when, for a short time, a brain does not get adequate supply of blood. The human brain requires blood to be constantly delivered to every neuron. This blood is filled with oxygen and nutrient that promote an overall healthy brain.  Blood travels through the body across many blood vessels and reaches every single part of the brain. If a brain does not get adequate oxygen an nutrient, it stop working. This is exactly what happens when a mini stroke occurs.

A mini stroke is a brief period in which there is not enough blood flow to the brain. It is important that nearly twenty percent of people who experience a mini stroke will likely progress to a major stroke sometime within the next three months. The problem is that most people do not understand the signs of a mini stroke and therefore never visit their doctor when they suffer one. Understanding the symptoms a mini stroke can help us to be better prepared should this happen to us.

Signs a mini stroke are often warning signs of a future stroke. The risk of a stroke increases dramatically in the days after a mini stroke attack (TIA), and the TIA may offer an opportunity to find a cause or minimize the risk to prevent the permanent neurologic damage that results because of a stroke.

Most patients who suffer a mini stroke will go on to suffer a major stroke within approximately three months has given doctors much more urgency when dealing with a mini strokes. Most mini stroke patients will be required to remain in the hospital for observation and testing for one to two days. Since early detection will allow for more successful prevention of a major stroke, many tests may be conducted to determine the cause of the mini stroke and medications are typically prescribed to attempt to thwart a major stroke before it happens.