What is a Minor Stroke?

[BOSSHOG]

I understand Senator Reid had a "minor" stroke today. I harken back to my Navy Days when a Sailor goy a "minor" injury. It usually wasn't minor to him or his family. I guess injuries are minor when they happen to someone else. And dealing with the likes of frist and bush and cheney and delay, how the hell could any such physical impairment be "minor?"

Senator Reid, I have lit a candle for you and I pray that you have a full recovery.

[BattyDem]

1. I love your sig line!

:toast:

[BOSSHOG]

6. Thank you very much

I'm proud to make that differentiation. I will play the Vet card whenever needed.

[Horse with no Name]

2. A minor stroke can be variable

A mini-stroke (also called Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA) produces stroke symptoms but offers a full recovery in a fairly short time.
It is generally a warning of a full blown stroke.
A minor stroke can result in altered vision, drooping of one side of the face, weakness in one or more extremity...etc.
Generally all of these are recoverable by themselves or with therapy.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Thanks so much

I didn't mean to be uncaring but I've spent a lot of time dealing with beat up humans who were diagnosed with "minor" injuries. I thought the term unnecessary.

[Knight of Ni]

7. Mini-strokes......

My father had two of them back in the early 90's. After the second one we learned that he needed special bypass surgery to avoid a large, possibly deadly one. Luckily, he got through the operation with flying colors and recovered.

[JI7]

10. i think Ralph Nader had a minor stroke

many years back which left half his face paralyzed.

[Gabi Hayes]

3. minor stroke:

Jeff Gannon

major stroke: Brian Williams

[uppityperson]

5. Usually means they will recover, or be able to talk, walk, eat

It is not minor to the person, but it is a severity thing. Means that they usually won't be severely crippled, or need to be fed, or not be able to talk or understand what you say.

[DanCa]

8. I think the symptoms of a minor stroke is a follows.

i think my definition of minor is that you dont loose full conciousness. It's like were you walk around punch drunk and get all tingly in your limbs. I think thats a minor stroke.

When I suffered a stroke after the romans threw me out of their church I lost my voice for three days. Four years later I was dxed with young onset parkinson's. Talk about a one two.

Ill be praying hard for the former boxer. Strokes of any kind are no fun.

[Bluebear]

9. Transient Ischemic Attack ("Mini-stroke"):

What is Transient Ischemic Attack?
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a transient stroke that lasts only a few minutes. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted. TIA symptoms, which usually occur suddenly, are similar to those of stroke but do not last as long. Most symptoms of a TIA disappear within an hour, although they may persist for up to 24 hours. Symptoms can include: numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion or difficulty in talking or understanding speech; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; and difficulty with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination.

Is there any treatment?
Because there is no way to tell whether symptoms are from a TIA or an acute stroke, patients should assume that all stroke-like symptoms signal an emergency and should not wait to see if they go away. A prompt evaluation (within 60 minutes) is necessary to identify the cause of the TIA and determine appropriate therapy. Depending on a patient's medical history and the results of a medical examination, the doctor may recommend drug therapy or surgery to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had a TIA. The use of antiplatelet agents, particularly aspirin, is a standard treatment for patients at risk for stroke. People with atrial fibrillation (irregular beating of the heart) may be prescribed anticoagulants.

What is the prognosis?
TIAs are often warning signs that a person is at risk for a more serious and debilitating stroke. About one-third of those who have a TIA will have an acute stroke some time in the future. Many strokes can be prevented by heeding the warning signs of TIAs and treating underlying risk factors. The most important treatable factors linked to TIAs and stroke are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, carotid artery disease, diabetes, and heavy use of alcohol. Medical help is available to reduce and eliminate these factors. Lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining healthy weight, exercising, and enrolling in smoking and alcohol cessation programs can also reduce these factors.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tia/tia.htm

[Kerebos]

11. I'm no medical expert, but...

Some strokes can in fact be minor, and let's hope this is the case.

I had an elderly landlady once who had what was called a "beneficial stroke" if you can believe that. The stroke actually improved some previously bad conditions, so you just never know.

Let's hope it's minor or one of those like my landlady had years ago.

[Richard Steele]

12. "Strokes" vary, according to 2 main things:

The SIZE of the blood vessel involved
and the AREA of the brain involved.

So, a LARGER blood vessel affects more brain mass,
and will have a larger (and more likely PERMANENT) effect.

But a TINY vessel in an important area (like speech or vision center)
can produce major symptoms, because of WHERE it happens.

And, if the actual physical damage to the brain is small enough,
the brain can compensate for the lost cells,
and the symptoms will diminish or disappear.

The whole notion of "minor or major"
really depends on your chances of recovery.
If you recover 100%, it was "minor"

[Horse with no Name]

13. Also to add more

There are two classifications of stroke.
Ischemic and Hemorrhagic.
Ischemic is where the blood vessel is blocked by a clot that either developed within the vessel or migrated to the vessel from another source. Warning signs may be transient and subtle.
Approximately 75% of strokes are ischemic. Clot busters are used for these types of strokes.
A hemorrhagic stroke is the result of a ruptured blood vessel.Most common cause is an aneurysm. Usually has an acute onset.Clot busters are not used for these types--treatment, if any, requires surgical intervention. Luckily these are in the minority of strokes.