By Mohammad Shamim
Mohammad was an undergraduate premedical student at The City College of New York in 2010.
Mohammad was an undergraduate premedical student at The City College of New York in 2010.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), three out of ten people never get the medical attention they require while having a mini or minor stroke. If left without proper medical care, these minor strokes become full-on strokes which lead to major health issues such as permanent brain damage. A major stroke occurs when the brain does not properly receive oxygen because of a blocked or ruptured blood vessel. People often do not get the help they require simply because they may not recognize the warning signs.
According to NIH the number of reports by hospitals and primary care doctors, of mini-stroke incidents have increased over the past year. Doctors refer to these strokes as Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA). Doctors and hospitals all over the world should educate their patients about the symptoms of TIA. In addition, patients should be aware of the signs themselves. According to NIH, the symptoms of TIA are:
-weakness or an inability to move all or part of one side of the body
-feelings of numbness or tingling on one side
-visual disturbances
-trouble speaking and understanding others
-dizziness and fainting
Age and gender do not affect whether or not you are susceptible to TIA. Anyone experiencing symptoms similar to the ones listed above, should contact their physician. The earlier these signs are noticed, the easier it is for one to seek medical attention and possibly prevent a major stroke-- so spread the word!
