A small stroke, or mini stroke, is also known as a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. According to MayoClinic.com, a small stroke can serve as a warning: about a third of all people who have a TIA go on to have a full stroke, often within a year of the first episode. The effects after a small stroke vary; however, symptoms generally subside after 24 hours.
Headache
MayoClinic.com reports that a transient ischemic attack is caused by a temporary clot in the brain's blood vessels. One of the common signs of a small stroke is a sudden, intense headache. This type of headache often seems to have no trigger.
Muscle Weakness
Another common symptom of a TIA is weakness that's generally located on one side of the body only, and according to the American Heart Association, usually has a rapid or sudden onset. Weakness following a TIA can affect the arm, leg or face, or even all three. It can range in severity from mild weakness to complete paralysis, though it is always temporary.
Poor Coordination
In addition to weakness, a person having a TIA might notice difficulties with coordination. According to MedlinePlus, sufferers tend to become more clumsy than usual, and may drop items, have difficulty writing or overshoot when reaching for objects. In addition, walking and balance may also be impaired.
Speech and Cognitive Changes
A person who is having a TIA may notice sudden difficulty speaking. This could be due to muscle weakness or coordination problems in the mouth and tongue, which can cause slurring of speech. During a small stroke, a person may also have difficulty finding words or even understanding what is said to him. Confusion, such as with problem solving or memory, may also be an issue.
Impaired Sensation
A sudden loss of sensation is also common after a small stroke. Like weakness, MayoClinic.com reports that sensory loss often comes on rapidly and usually affects one side of the body. According to MedlinePlus, sensory changes affect not only the sense of touch on one side of the body, but other senses as well, including taste and hearing. A person may have difficulty feeling pressure, temperature or pain. In addition, she may also have agnosia, which is difficulty recognizing sensations.
Visual Problems
MayoClinic.com reports that sudden blindness and double vision, either in one or both eyes, are possible complications of a TIA. In addition, a person may have difficulty reading or even deciphering printed words. These visual problems, however, are not permanent.
Attention Deficits
In addition to the physical changes mentioned above, a person's level of arousal may also change during a small stroke. MedlinePlus reports that a person may seem sleepy or become less responsive following a TIA. He may also become unconscious or even enter a coma; however, like other TIA symptoms, this also resolves within 24 hours.
