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Mini-stroke vs. regular stroke: What's the difference?
By Mayo Clinic staff
- With Mayo Clinic neurologist
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Swanson is a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic and is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has a special interest in headache disorders and medical education.
Dr. Swanson, a Lacon, Ill., native, was appointed to the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 and works in the Department of Neurology with about 90 other physicians. He formerly chaired the Headache Division in the Neurology Department at Mayo Clinic and works with headache subspecialists around the world. He has published and lectured widely on headache disorders. He also serves as Assistant Dean for Assessment in Mayo Medical School.
"In a manner similar to the printing press, Internet technology enables the unprecedented ability to communicate with the global community about health information," Dr. Swanson says. "There is no doubt that the knowledgeable individual contributes greatly to his or her own health care, and now we can share information much more widely."
"There is much information already available about health care on the Internet. Unfortunately, much of it is not founded on sound principles. It is exciting to be a part of the MayoClinic.com team and contribute to the creation of a reliable and timely health resource."
Dr. Swanson is the neurology editor for "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and has reviewed articles for "Mayo Clinic Health Letter" and "Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource." He is also editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic on Headache" book, published in 2004. In 2008 the magazine "Women's Health" named him one of America's Top Doctors for Women.
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Question
Mini-stroke vs. regular stroke: What's the difference?
How is a "mini-stroke" different from a regular stroke?
Answer
from Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced. This deprives part of the brain of oxygen and nutrients, which can destroy brain cells and result in some degree of permanent disability. Stroke symptoms may include trouble walking and speaking, as well as paralysis or numbness on one side of the body. Prompt treatment is essential. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the risk of permanent disability.
The term "mini-stroke" is a misnomer that typically refers to a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — a temporary interruption of blood flow to part of the brain. The symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of a stroke but resolve quickly — within several minutes to several hours. A TIA doesn't destroy brain cells or cause permanent disability. However, TIAs may recur. Each TIA increases the risk of a subsequent stroke.
If you suspect that you've had a TIA, seek immediate medical attention. You may need various diagnostic tests — such as a computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan — to determine what caused the TIA. Depending on the underlying cause, you may need medication to prevent blood clots or a procedure to remove fatty deposits from the arteries that supply blood to your brain.
