Posted on 03/07/2005 7:37:13 PM PST by FairOpinion
Warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be evident as early as seven days before an attack and require urgent treatment to prevent serious damage to the brain, according to a study of stroke patients.
Warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be evident as early as seven days before an attack and require urgent treatment to prevent serious damage to the brain, according to a study of stroke patients published in the March 8, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Eighty percent of strokes are ischemic, caused by the narrowing of the large or small arteries of the brain, or by clots that block blood flow to the brain. They are often preceded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a “warning stroke” or “mini-stroke” that shows symptoms similar to a stroke, typically lasts less than five minutes, and does not injure the brain.
The study examined 2,416 people who had experienced an ischemic stroke. In 549 patients, TIAs were experienced prior to the ischemic stroke and in most cases occurred within the preceding seven days: 17 percent occurring on the day of the stroke, 9 percent on the previous day, and 43 percent at some point during the seven days prior to the stroke.
“We have known for some time that TIAs are often a precursor to a major stroke,” said study author Peter M. Rothwell, MD, PhD, FRCP, of the Department of Clinical Neurology at Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford, England. “What we haven’t been able to determine is how urgently patients must be assessed following a TIA in order to receive the most effective preventive treatment. This study indicates that the timing of a TIA is critical, and the most effective treatments should be initiated within hours of a TIA in order to prevent a major attack.”
Rothwell also noted that clinical guidelines should be amended accordingly.
The study included two population-based studies (Oxford Vascular Study and Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project) as well as two randomized trials (UK-TIA Aspirin Trial and European Carotid Surgery Trial).
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 18,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as dementia, dystonia, epilepsy, migraine, and stroke.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com.
"I never thought of a neurologist, but I think now that I probably just need sleep... lol... insomniac here."
I'd like to second - or third - the opinion that you go to a neurologist. Losing your vision is not normal and while it could be ocular migraine or low blood pressure, you're not qualified to decide that. Your gp, having not found the source of the problem, should've referred you to a neurologist. In the meantime, get your eyes checked if you haven't already done so.
"Another thing I was reading is that it could be migraines that just don't generate pain."
Do you see anything in the time preceding the loss of vision, like little flashes of light? That's usually a clue.
My mother and I were in our basement when she was moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. She suddenly dropped the basket, and told me her arm went completely weak and then numb. She had a similar complaint to me about two days later. One week after the first event she had a stroke during a wedding ceremony for my sister's friend, and two weeks after that the Lord took her.
Suffice it to say that the warning signs listed first - sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body - are permanently etched into my brain.
Yeah, my GP sent me to an eye doctor, too, because, in addition to the "mini-blackouts", I've been having double vision. The eye doctor said I probably had it all my life and didn't notice (yeah, right!) and prescribed glasses that don't help at all... lol. It seems that doctors don't have enough time to spend with patients and are making quick diagnoses... Btw, I'm not too worried, either. I've had the "blackouts" since high school, and I'm still alive. :-)
I brought him to the ER of a rural hospital within the three hour window, but the doc would not give TPA without a CT scan proving the stroke was ischemic and not hemorragic, though he was known to have heavily blocked arteries and the odds were stacked pretty heavily on one side. The closest CT machine was ninety minutes away, and he was outside the time window by the time the test was done, and didn't survive.
Do you see anything in the time preceding the loss of vision, like little flashes of light? That's usually a clue.
No, my vision just dims, and then goes black for a few seconds, and then gradually clears. I become dizzy, but I've never passed out once, though. After reading the descriptions here of TIAs and others' personal experiences with them, it doesn't sound like TIAs.
But I'll certainly take both of your advice and try to find out what it is for sure.
"in addition to the "mini-blackouts", I've been having double vision."
All that could have a neurological cause.
Don't forget this by tomorrow. Follow up, see a neurologist.
Warning Signs of Stroke
The most common sign of stroke is sudden weakness of the face, arm or leg, most often on one side of the body.
Other warning signs can include:
* Sudden numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
* Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
* Sudden severe headache with no known cause
The signs of a stroke depend on the side of the brain that's affected, the part of the brain, and how severely the brain is injured. Therefore, each person may have different stroke warning signs. Stroke may be associated with a headache, or may be completely painless.
If you or someone you know is having these signs, call 911 and seek medical help immediately. Stroke is a medical emergency. Treatment is available, but only if a stroke is recognized in time. DO NOT try to diagnose the problem by yourself, and DO NOT wait to see if the symptoms go away on their own.
Even if the symptoms pass quickly, they could be an important warning that requires prompt medical attention.
That's probably it... I have naturally low blood pressure, too, and I sometimes black out like that. No worries... for now! ;-)
I think when there is something wrong, there is a cause, and it's a good idea to track it down, sometimes you have to push the doctors and see some specialists. Did you see an ophtalmologist?
Diabetes can definitely cause blindness. I have had my blood sugar checked several times and it is always excellent.
I have been to a couple of opthalmologists. One opthalmologist said that my eyes were retaining fluid, the another one said that was crazy. Now my opthamologist wants me to come in while my vision is actually blurry. I know I need to do that; but, it usually isn't convenient. After twenty years I don't get too concerned any more.
I bought the magazine and read it when I got home. After seeing that the dizzy spells that I had experienced were, in-fact, TIA's I called my doctor & made an appointment. The Dr. scheduled an ultrasound on my carotid arteries and immediately scheduled me for surgery.
During the surgery, he found a huge blood clot in the artery just waiting to go to my brain. If this had happened and I had survived I would have become a Democrat forever.
Now I'm constantly preaching to my family about the warning signs preceding a stroke.
This is an absolutely true story (with just a little humor).
Professional "journalism" strikes again.
Had a stroke in '94 - 44 years old then. I noticed double vision the day before, but was more worried about an atrial fibrillation attack then, and disregarded it. A blood clot from the fib most likely caused the stroke. Don't ignore it as I did. Makes it tougher to direct digit dial.
My father had TIA this evening. He felt numbness in his right side and dizziness. He was not admitted but has a test on his corotid artery this comming week. He is diabetic and has had high blood pressure for many years. He wanted to be stubborn and not go to the ER but wait and call his doctor in the morning. I tell this to remind others how important it is to get medical attention immediately when a stroke is suspected. Thank You very much for posting this important thread.
Thanks for sharing. You may want to take this article along and make sure the doctors don't just dismiss his TIA.
Some of the time people don't take it seriously enough, but many times the doctors don't.
Best wishes to your Father.
You may want to ask the doctor, whether he should be taking some aspirin, or higher doses of aspirin in the meantime, even while they are doing the tests and getting the results.
The doctor indeed said to start taking aspririn.
Good. Because it seems the TIA warning could be hours, days or a week before a possible worse attack. Aspirin hopefully will prevent another TIA or a stroke.
If your Father experiences any other symptoms, be sure to get him to ER immidiately.
With the last quick action, you may have saved not just his life, but the quality of his life, but stay vigilant and don't let him ignore any symptoms.
Best wishes and prayers for your Father to be able to avoid a stroke.
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