1. Watch for Sudden, Unilateral Numbness
If you're at work and suddenly have difficulty typing with your right hand or moving your right arm, it could be a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also referred to as a mini-stroke. Your face may feel tingly, and your right leg might give way without warning. During a TIA, blood flow to the brain is disrupted temporarily, which can lead to muscle weakness or numbness on one side of your body. The symptoms generally don't last longer than an hour, but you shouldn't hesitate to talk with your doctor about the experience. A TIA could be your body's warning mechanism, alerting you to an impending stroke. Your physician can conduct a full evaluation to determine the cause of the episode and recommend steps to avoid a future attack.
2. Be Wary of Unexpected Cognitive Difficulties
Slurred or distorted speech and sudden difficulty comprehending others may also signal a TIA. Known as aphasia, this condition is often caused by disruption of the brain's left hemisphere, which is where most of us house our language centers. If you suffer from a TIA, your ability to speak and comprehend should be restored fully within several minutes or, at most, a few hours.
3. Don't Ignore Headaches and Vision Problems
Many people with TIAs experience severe, one-sided headaches during their episode. While your headache may feel like a migraine, it probably won't present with "typical" migraine symptoms such as auras, nausea, vomiting or light sensitivity. If you are not prone to headaches, it's especially critical that you address sudden neurological pain with your doctor. Studies indicate that these unilateral headaches may be precursors to full-blown strokes.
You may also have vision issues with a TIA, including double vision, loss of sight on one side, or blurriness. While your vision symptoms may be painless, this does not diminish your need for an immediate medical evaluation.
4. Take Note of Coordination Difficulties
A loss of balance or a spinning sensation, accompanied by nausea, can alert you to TIA activity, too. When the blood flow to the brain is interrupted temporarily, vertigo, ear ringing and clumsiness can occur. If you experience a sudden loss of balance or observe a family member or friend struggling with coordination, be on the lookout for other TIA symptoms. Your doctor may want to conduct a tilt table test, used to pinpoint the cause of decreased blood flow to portions of your brain. Don't be surprised if he also recommends other diagnostic procedures like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). These tools provide in-depth brain scans that help rule out brain tumors, hemorrhages and other TIA causes.
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