What are Massive and Mini Strokes?
In this article, we will understand what a massive stroke is, the recovery potentials and how the brain recovers after a massive stroke. We will also consider symptoms of a mini stroke and what to expect after an individual suffers one.
A stroke occur when the supply of blood in the brain is compromised, or disrupted by any of the following conditions: (1) blood cloth and (2) burst artery.
Blood clot:
When blood flow in the brain is interrupted by a clot, it is called an ischemic stroke.
Burst artery:
If an artery in the brain bursts, causing uncontrollable bleeding, it is called a hemorrhagic stroke.
When the brain does not receive enough blood supply, brain tissue damage can occur. This may result in mild or massive stroke.
If it is a massive stroke, many areas of the brain can be significantly affected or damaged. So a stroke can be termed massive, if damage to the tissues within many brain areas, is substantially high.
While it is true, dead brain cells cannot revive, evidence shows that the healthy areas of the brain can immediately begin to pick from what is left. In the next article, we will understand what recovery potentials are possible after a massive stroke.
The Recovery Potentials for Massive stroke survivors
To determine how sever a stroke is, medical experts most often use the NIH Stroke Scale. If a patient scored between 21 and 42 (the highest possible score), that individual is considered to have suffered a massive stroke. As a result, your medical team may use your score to provide a rough picture of what to expect, after a massive stroke.
However, one thing you have to bear mind is that, every stroke is different and every recovery will be different. This makes it almost impossible for doctors, or medical experts to provide an accurate template, for all patients who suffer a massive stroke.
As a result, the important step moving forward is to go through rehabilitation processes, to see what type of recovery is achievable. To help us understand how to get the most effective results from rehabilitation, we need to know how the brain recovers from damage such as a massive stroke. The next article will help us better.
How the Brain recovers from a Massive stroke
The recovery process from a massive stroke centers around healing the brain, to restore normal functions in the body. Interestingly, the brain has an inbuilt ability to heal itself after injury, even in cases involving large injuries such as a massive stroke.
It does so through the process neurologists call neuroplasticity. By means of this process, healthy areas of the brain can take over the functions damaged by stroke.
Although the recovery process may take time and hard work, there is hope for recovery either partial or total.
Neuroplasticity occurs based on experience. Whatever you are repeatedly exposed to, or whatever you repeatedly practice, are the skills that your brain becomes more efficient with and adaptable to.
For this reason, it is good to start stroke rehabilitation from the hospital before the patient is discharged, if it is possible to do so. The medical teams, need to expose the brain to therapeutic experiences, to get the recovery process started as soon as possible.
After stroke treatment, survivors are discharge from hospital and continue with inpatient therapy, they can also maximize the great recovery potentials that early rehabilitation offers to the brain, by continuing the process at home.
The recovery Timeline for a Massive stroke
The recovery timeline for a massive stroke is relative. It often takes years to recover from the effects of a massive stroke.
But as we know, it varies depending on several factors. However, when planning for recovery, a long-term rehabilitation is the most ideal way to go.
What is Mini or Minor Stroke?
A mini stroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), occurs when a temporary blood clot forms in one of the arteries of the brain. It causes “stroke-like” symptoms, that usually resolve within 24 hours and most often does not cause major or permanent side effects.
Although it does not cause permanent disabilities, it is often a major warning sign and risk factor of an impending full stroke. It is estimated that, one in five patients who suffer a TIA will likely have a major stroke within the next one year or more.
As a result of this, early treatment of TIA and efforts to prevent a bigger stroke are seriously important. To achieve this, it is equally important to understand the signs of a mini stroke.
Symptoms And Warning Signs Of A Mini Strokes
Mini strokes and full strokes have similar symptoms. To identify the signs and symptoms of both, it is helpful to know this acronym and remember it always: (F.A.S.T)
F, stands for Face:
This means when you notice face numbness and drooping, especially on one side of the face
A, stands for Arm:
Meaning when you notice weakness of the arm on one side of the body
S, stands for Speech
Slurred speech or difficulty finding words from the patient
T, stands for Time:
The watch word here is time. Yes, time is life! It’s time to seek emergency treatment immediately, without delay.
Other common signs and symptoms include; vision loss and a sudden severe headache. The effects of a mini stroke can last between 15 minutes and 24 hours.
For the fact that mini strokes have the identical symptoms with major strokes, it is not always easy to know if a person is having a transient ischemic attack, or something more serious. As a result, it is important to seek medical intervention to get properly diagnosed and treatment, as early as possible. The next section will consider how you can get proper diagnosis.
How to get proper Diagnosis for Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
The best way to tell the difference between a TIA and a full stroke, is to have a full medical evaluation by a doctor. He will perform an examination and request the imaging of the brain.
For imaging the brain, it will require carrying out CT scans or an MRI. Only these can clearly tell the level of damage that may have happened as a result of the stroke.
Another thing a doctor could do, is to order an ultrasound or echocardiogram, to see if there is blockage or plaque in the arteries. This will help to further ascertain, the cause of the stroke.
With it’s result, the cause can be addressed and adequate treatment administered. After a mini or minor stroke is treated what can the survivor except?
What to Expect after a Mini stroke
As mentioned before, a mini stroke does not cause permanent side effects. What this means is that, mini stroke survivors may not necessarily need to undergo formal therapeutic rehabilitation procedures, as will be required for other forms of strokes.
Summary
As you have learned, there are different types of stroke, such as: ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). These are further broken into categories.
The recovery timeline for a massive stroke is relative. It often takes years to recover from the effects of a massive stroke.
Mini stroke, also known as transient ischemic attack, causes “stroke-like” symptoms that usually resolve within 24 hours and most often does not cause major or permanent side effects. However, it is a major warning sign of more serious stroke.
Book to link: 235 Essential Stroke Facts you don’t Know