Mini Stroke vs. Stroke: How to Tell the Signs

The main difference between a stroke and a mini stroke – also known as a transient ischemic attack – is how long the blood supply to the brain is disrupted.

Nearly 240,000 people experience a mini stroke each year in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

Jonathan Donnelly, MBBS, is a vascular neurologist at our Neuroscience Institute – Greece Ridgeway location and explains the warnings signs of a mini stroke, what puts you at an increased risk of having one, and the next steps you should take after being diagnosed.

Signs of a mini stroke

The signs of a mini stroke are the same as a stroke and can be remembered with the acronym BEFAST:

• Balance
• Eyes
• Face drooping
• Arm weakness
• Speech/language difficulty
• Time to call 911

With a mini stroke, however, these symptoms can resolve in as little as 5 minutes or in less than 24 hours.

“It’s easy to shrug off the symptoms of a mini stroke, especially if they don’t last long,” Dr. Donnelly said. “But it’s a warning that a stroke may be coming.”

Diagnosing a mini stroke

If you think you or someone you know experienced one or more of the symptoms of a stroke for even a short amount of time, call a doctor as soon as possible to get an emergency assessment for a transient ischemic attack.

Research for the American Heart Association suggests nearly 1 in 5 people who have a mini stroke will have a full-blown stroke within 90 days. For this reason, experts strongly encourage people with symptoms of a mini stroke to get evaluated by a medical professional within 24 hours of their symptoms starting.

During an evaluation, most patients undergo the following:

• Stroke symptom evaluation
• Medical and family history check
• Imaging of head and neck blood vessels
• Additional imaging as needed (CT, angiogram, and/or MRI)

If a mini stroke is confirmed, providers will refer you to a neurologist for further testing and preventative treatment.

“Neurologists have specialized experience in assessing and treating strokes,” Dr. Donnelly said. “Seeing a neurologist to diagnose a transient ischemic attack is crucial to preventing something more serious from happening in the future.”

Risk factors for a mini stroke

Some habits and health conditions can raise your risk of having a mini stroke and stroke. Some of these risk factors can be controlled, while others can’t be.

The most significant risk factor is age. Stroke risk doubles every 10 years after you turn 55. Others include:

• atrial fibrillation
• diabetes
• family/personal history of stroke
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• smoking

“Take the steps you can do lower your risk of having a stroke,” Dr. Donnelly said. “Some things like age and family history can’t be controlled, but lifestyle choices like eating more fruits & vegetables and quitting smoking can drastically reduce the chances of having a stroke.”