A mild stroke causes only a few symptoms, which generally improve over time. A type of mild stroke is a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, which is a brief disruption in blood supply to the brain. Symptoms occur suddenly and last a few moments to an hour. Rarely, TIA symptoms last up to 24 hours and then resolve completely without medical intervention. The effects of a minor stroke depend on which part of the brain is affected.
Paresthesia
Paresthesia is the sensation of numbness and tingling. Numbness and tingling to the face, tongue and extremities are frequently reported effects of a minor stroke. However, although frequent, these symptoms are often ignored. The American Stroke Association emphasizes that mild stroke symptoms and TIAs be taken seriously as they are precursors to larger and dangerous strokes capable of causing permanent disability and death.
Weakness
Weakness to any part of the body is a symptom of stroke. Weakness can be generalized and can affect the entire body, or it may affect only one side of the body. In this instance, a person can report weakness to one or both extremities on one side of the body. Weakness may develop gradually, or as reported by the National Institutes of Health, may occur suddenly, as in the case of a TIA.
Confusion
Confusion is an effect of a minor stroke. A person who suddenly cannot carry out simple tasks, is unable to recognize his surroundings or familiar people, or appears confused in any other way needs immediate medical attention to rule out potentially serious and lethal causes because at the onset of symptoms there is no way to know if the cause is simply a minor stroke. Furthermore, as the ASA and NIH advise, the effects of a minor stroke should not be ignored.
Difficulty Speaking
Some strokes affect the speech center in the brain. A person may not be able to speak words clearly. He may only be able to utter garbled words or make incoherent noises. In other instances, a person may be able to formulate words, but she strings them together in nonsensical patterns. Some victims of minor stroke lose the ability to produce any verbal sound completely.
Visual Disturbances
Depending on where the minor stroke occurs, a person can experience blurred vision, double vision or loss of one or both visual fields. Temporary blindness is a possible effect of a minor stroke.
Incoordination
Effects of a minor stroke include loss of balance and difficulty walking or moving in general. Loss of depth perception is particularly problematic when a visual disturbance is involved. A person with these symptoms is at risk for falling and sustaining subsequent injuries.
Dizziness
In some cases, minor strokes affect the vestibular nerve, a branch of the auditory nerve, which is involved with equilibrium. Damage to this nerve causes dizziness and impaired balance.
Loss of Consciousness
Complete loss of consciousness is a possible effect of a minor stroke. A person who suffers loss of consciousness needs medical attention regardless of how quickly he recovers.
