Sudden onset of weakness or speech disturbance? Seek urgent medical attention even if symptoms improve quickly. Stroke awareness.

[AussieNeil]

'Anyone can have a mini stroke but it is more frequent in patients who have risk factors for blood vessel damage: old age, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and raised cholesterol levels.

Heart conditions leading to an irregular and fast heart rate, called atrial fibrillation, and disorders that mean blood has a tendency to form clots, are also causes of mini strokes. These are the same factors that can lead to a stroke.'

Given we are more likely to have some of these risk factors than the general population, here are some short overviews of the symptoms of strokes and mini-strokes and what to do to minimise their impact from The Conversation authors -

How to recognise a stroke and what you should know about their treatment

theconversation.com/how-to-...

by Caleb Ferguson, Chancellors Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney

A mini stroke is a warning! A stroke may follow

theconversation.com/a-mini-...

by Candice Delcourt, Clinical Research Fellow, George Institute for Global Health

Neil

Photo: an echidna, or spiny ant-eater. One of Australia's unique animals that I would not be tempted to stroke...

[NooNoo14]

Thanks for the post Neil. It is amazing how many people have atrial fibrillation symptoms but because they only have them occasionally, they carry on until it becomes a major problem - I include myself in that statement!

I was diagnosed early 2015 after have PAF (paroxysmal/occasional atrial fibrillation) for approx 4 years.

A very basic explanation is that when your heart rate increases in AF, the passage of blood through the body slows down and it becomes thicker. It can then finds small areas in the heart etc where it sits and forms a clot (possibly causing a stroke). The most important treatment is to take a drug that will stop your blood clotting (e.g. Warfarin). Heart rate meds also help.

As per Neil's post - awareness is key!

Love the ant eater photo Neil.

Netty

[SeymourB]

With my fatigue, I am more and more sedentary, My step counts have dropped below 2000 average. Te risk of blood clots goes up. Usually, we hear about long plane flights are risk of a pulmonary embolism - a clot in the lung. But it can certainly happen at home, too. I take a baby aspirin every day. My platelet counts are still good.

webmd.com/lung/news/2011070...

A baby aspirin is also good first aid for a stroke - but if your platelets are low, you MUST see your doctor for advice:

strokeassociation.org/STROK...

or ministroke, which is also known as a TIA, or Transient Ischemic Attack,

Remember FAST:

F Face Drooping

A Arm Weakness

S Speech Difficulty

T Time to call 911 (or 211, 000, 999 or whatever your country uses)

[virdieblue]

I recently had a very stressful week. While at the gym lifting weights (little ones) I got a severe pounding in my head followed by a migraine. A couple of days later when I saw my primary and told him about it, he said the only reason I wasn't in an ambulance heading for the hospital was because I was functioning normally. Turns out that pounding in the head after straining can be a sign of a bleed in the brain. As Ibrutinib can cause bleeds I was doubly worried. Waited 5 long days for a brain scan which was thankfully clear.

Virginia