Key takeaways:
Ministrokes, also called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), are caused by blocked blood flow to a specific area of your brain.
Early warning signs of a ministroke include one-sided weakness, speech problems, vision loss, and balance problems.
Seek medical care immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms of a ministroke.
Ministrokes are brief episodes of low blood flow to the brain that resolve on their own. They’re also called transient ischemic attacks or TIAs. TIAs usually resolve on their own within minutes. Most last less than an hour, but they can last as long as 24 hours.
Unlike a stroke, ministrokes don’t cause lasting damage to your brain. But they’re an important warning that you’re at higher risk of having a stroke in the near future.
The symptoms of a stroke and ministroke are often the same. So, it’s important to get care right away if you’re having ministroke symptoms. That’s because you could actually be having a stroke. Here are six early warning signs of a ministroke you don’t want to ignore.
What are the early signs and symptoms of a ministroke?
Symptoms of a ministroke, or TIA, can come on all of a sudden. The acronym “BE-FAST” is a helpful way to remember the common symptoms of a TIA or stroke.
You may notice one or more of these symptoms during a ministroke.
| Symptoms | Quick test | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance loss |
|
Stand up and try to walk a few steps. Do you feel dizzy or lose your balance? |
| Eye (vision) changes |
|
Cover one eye at a time. Is your vision blurry or doubled in one or both eyes? |
| Face drooping |
|
Try to smile. Does your smile look uneven or asymmetrical? |
| Arm weakness |
|
Try to raise both of your arms. Does one arm drift downward? |
| Speech difficulty |
|
Try to repeat a simple phrase, like “the dog chased a rabbit.” Does your speech sound different or unclear? |
| Time to call 911 |
|
Are you worried that there’s something wrong? Don’t second guess yourself: Call for help right away. |
The BE-FAST acronym is a great tool to help you remember common ministroke symptoms. But these aren’t the only symptoms that can occur with a ministroke.
Other possible ministroke symptoms
In addition to the BE-FAST symptoms above, any of the following symptoms can also be signs of a ministroke:
Severe headache: Up to 1 in 8 people experiencing a TIA develops headaches. But keep in mind that headaches are very common and can have many causes. A headache on its own is unlikely to be from a ministroke. Most people with TIAs who have a headache also have other symptoms.
One-sided weakness: Weakness on one side of your body is a hallmark symptom of stroke. While this often affects an arm, it can also affect a leg or one side of your face.
Numbness: You may also notice numbness on one side of your body. This can feel like pins and needles along one side of your body. You may also feel completely numb.
Confusion: A ministroke can also make it hard to understand what others are saying. This can make you feel confused and disoriented. You may also have trouble describing what you’re experiencing because of confusion. If a loved one suddenly seems disoriented, it could be a sign of a ministroke.
What causes ministrokes (transient ischemic attacks)?
Ministrokes develop when blood flow to the brain is blocked or reduced. This usually happens because a blood clot partially blocks a blood vessel (artery). During a TIA, the blood clot dissolves or moves on from where it was blocking blood flow.
Some medical conditions increase your risk of developing a ministroke, including:
Smoking can also increase your risk of developing a ministroke because it can damage your blood vessels.
What should you do if you think you’re having a ministroke?
Call 911 and get immediate medical care if you think you or someone else is having a ministroke. It’s impossible to tell from symptoms alone whether you’re having a ministroke or a stroke. And a stroke is life-threatening.
Healthcare professionals can get imaging studies, which will show if you’re having a stroke or a ministroke. They can also do other tests to see if your symptoms are caused by another medical condition.
Symptoms of a ministroke will get better on their own. But you should still get a medical evaluation, even if your stroke symptoms go away.
A ministroke is a sign that you’re at higher risk for developing a stroke in the future. In fact, 1 in 5 people who have a ministroke develop a stroke within 90 days. About half of these strokes happen within 2 days of the ministroke.
If you’ve had a ministroke, you’ll likely need other specialized tests to check the health of the blood vessels in your brain. Your healthcare team can help you find the right treatments to lower your risk of developing a stroke in the future.
Frequently asked questions
Medical conditions like seizures, migraines with aura, and fainting spells can cause symptoms similar to those of a ministroke. You should still seek immediate medical care for symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), even if you have one of these conditions. Your healthcare team can make sure your symptoms aren’t from a blocked blood vessel or another condition.
You may feel completely normal before you have a ministroke (TIA). Ministroke symptoms tend to come on all of a sudden. But sometimes symptoms start more gradually. You may feel mild symptoms for a few minutes before they get worse.
If you experience a ministroke, hospital staff will run blood tests and do an MRI or CT scan of your brain. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart. You may need specialized imaging of your blood vessels, like a CT angiogram or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). You may also need additional tests and follow-up care with specialists after you leave the hospital.
Medical conditions like seizures, migraines with aura, and fainting spells can cause symptoms similar to those of a ministroke. You should still seek immediate medical care for symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), even if you have one of these conditions. Your healthcare team can make sure your symptoms aren’t from a blocked blood vessel or another condition.
You may feel completely normal before you have a ministroke (TIA). Ministroke symptoms tend to come on all of a sudden. But sometimes symptoms start more gradually. You may feel mild symptoms for a few minutes before they get worse.
If you experience a ministroke, hospital staff will run blood tests and do an MRI or CT scan of your brain. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart. You may need specialized imaging of your blood vessels, like a CT angiogram or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). You may also need additional tests and follow-up care with specialists after you leave the hospital.
The bottom line
A ministroke develops when there’s a temporary block in a blood vessel in the brain. Ministrokes, or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), can cause symptoms like one-sided weakness and speech difficulty. They can also cause confusion, vision loss, and balance problems. These early warning signs can start suddenly and go away on their own. But it’s impossible to tell from your symptoms alone if you’re having a ministroke or a stroke. That’s why it’s important to get immediate medical care if you’re having ministroke symptoms.
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References
American Stroke Association. (n.d.). Let’s talk about stroke and vision changes.
American Stroke Association. (n.d.). Let’s talk about transient ischemic attack (TIA).
American Stroke Association. (n.d.). Stroke symptoms.
American Stroke Association. (n.d.). Transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Lebedeva, E. R., et al. (2018). Headache in transient ischemic attacks. The Journal of Headache and Pain.
Nadarajan, V., et al. (2014). Transient ischaemic attacks: Mimics and chameleons. Practical Neurology.
Northwestern Medicine. (n.d.). Warning signs of stroke.
