Mini-strokes may predict a larger one -- soon

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Symptoms of a mini-stroke may go away on their own, but a sigh of relief would be premature -- especially during the first 24 hours.

Doctors, but not enough patients, have known that mini-strokes, or transient ischemic attacks, can portend a larger, more damaging stroke. Now researchers have established just when those large strokes might be more likely to happen: About half of people who have a major stroke after a mini-stroke do so during the first 24 hours.

The abstract, and signs of a mini-stroke, courtesy of the American Heart Assn. They include speech or vision problems, balance difficulties and weakness on one side of the body.

Major strokes usually occur with no warning. But if you do have a warning, such as a mini-stroke, maybe you should consider yourself lucky and get to a doctor.

--Tami Dennis