Mini Strokes in Women

All our bodily functions are controlled by one organ, the brain. The signals from the brain are transmitted through the spinal cord to various parts of the body to perform their respective functions. What happens during a stroke is that, the a part of the brain loses its blood supply as a result of which the brain and the part of the body it controls, both stop working. Now, what exactly happens in case of a mini stroke? While the brain loses blood supply, it also tries to restore it and if it succeeds in restoring the blood supply, the brain cells start to function and start sending signals to restore the functions of the body part that stopped working because of the obstruction in the blood supply. The process and the duration where the blood flow or blood supply stops, restores and activates the brain cells is called a mini stroke or a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). This duration could be anywhere between a few minutes and a few hours or even 24 hours. Unlike stroke, mini stroke does not damage the brain completely, it returns to the normal state and restores its functions. A mini stroke is oftentimes a warning sign of a stroke in future though and studies indicate that, mini strokes in women have a higher risk of turning into a stroke as compared to men.

Causes of Mini Strokes

Before we move on to our main topic, mini strokes in women, let us first understand what causes these mini strokes or TIA. In most cases, blood clots are a major reason for mini strokes. Blood clots interrupt the blood flow and hardens the arteries, which are the major source of blood to the brain. As a result of disruption in the blood flow, the brain stops functioning and also stops the functions of certain parts of the body. When the blood clots dissolve, the blood flow becomes to normal. A rather uncommon cause of mini stroke is a sudden dip of blood pressure. Here, blood flow to the brain reduces causing a mini stroke. Being overweight, poor diet, high cholesterol symptoms and lack of physical activity can increase the risk of a stroke or a mini stroke. Menopause, pregnancy and childbirth add to the stroke risk factors in women.

Common Symptoms of Mini Strokes

Although there are certain mini stroke signs and symptoms that are only observed in women, most of the symptoms of mini strokes are common regardless of the the age and gender. Given below is the list of common symptoms of mini strokes.

• A part of the body feels numb or heavy
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• The person may experience severe headaches
• Dizziness and inability to walk
• In a confused state of mind, unable to comprehend what's happening around

Symptoms of Mini Strokes in Women

Besides the common mini stroke symptoms, signs and symptoms of stroke in women in cases of mini strokes include the following.

• They feel lightheaded.
• Heart beats at a faster rate.
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Fatigue.
• Nausea.
• Sudden headache
• Sudden pain in the face, legs and arms.

Prevention of mini stroke symptoms for women is indeed possible by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To achieve or maintain a healthy lifestyle, women need to ensure that they follow a healthy diet that is low in cholesterol and high in nutrition. Adequate exercise to the body is also essential to stay healthy and avoid the risk for stroke. Bringing in small changes in the lifestyle can considerably reduce the chances of mini strokes in women. A mini stroke might not seem to be too much of a concern to many. However, it must be looked at seriously as those who have had a mini stroke have more chances of getting a stroke. Stroke that could permanently damage the brain and disable the body to perform daily activities, affecting the quality of life. Start taking care of your health as the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure and look out for stroke symptoms to get immediate medical attention and the appropriate mini stroke treatment before the condition becomes critical. Take care and enjoy a quality life...