Know About Mini-Strokes: It Can Save Your Life

By Annette Pinder

Did you know the rate of stroke death in WNY is 23 percent higher than the national average, and 70% higher than the entire state of New York?

That’s one reason Vernice E. Bates, M.D. and Fran M. Gengo, Pharm.D. at DENT Neurologic Institute want people in Western New York (WNY) to know about transcient ischemic attacks or TIAs. Also referred to as a mini-stroke, when a TIA occurs symptoms usually last less than 24 hours before they disappear. And, while TIAs generally do not cause brain damage, they are a serious warning sign of stroke and should never be ignored.

Symptoms of a TIA and stroke are basically the same:

· Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body

· Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

· Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

· Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Causes of TIA include:

· Low blood flow at a narrow part of a major artery carrying blood to the brain

· A blood clot in another part of the body that breaks off and travels to the brain blocking a blood vessel

· Narrowing of the smaller blood vessel to the brain, blocking flow for a short period of time.

Dr. Bates explains that, “Up to 40 percent of all people who experience a TIA will go on to have a real stroke, and studies show nearly half of all strokes occur within two days of a TIA. During this time, five percent of people will have a stroke, and within three months after a TIA, 10-15 percent of people will have one.”

There is clearly a window of time where the possibility of a deadly stroke may be averted. Drs. Bates and Gengo are focusing on these patients at the new Acute TIA Program at DENT. There, these patients can be seen immediately, rather than having to undergo various lab tests and schedule an MRI. Instead, they are able to have a thorough evaluation, assessment of their medications, and an MRI. “The goal of the Acute TIA Program is to prevent people from having a future stroke, and so far, the data proves that what are doing is paying off,” says Dr. Bates.

Dr. Gengo emphasizes the importance of knowing exactly what medications a patient is taking because some may interfere with others. He explains, “There are many medications that help prevent blood clots from forming. Also, the medicine and therapy we prescribe depends on the exact cause of the TIA.” So what should someone do if they are experiencing stroke symptoms? “Call your primary care physician, and get to a hospital or emergency room immediately,” says Dr. Bates. And if you think you’ve experienced a TIA and your symptoms have disappeared, it is still important to be thoroughly evaluated as soon as possible.

WNY RESOURCE:

Dr. Bates is Medical Director for the DENT Stroke/TIA Clinic, and Dr. Gengo is Director of Neuropharmacology, and Research Director for the TIA Clinic. To learn more or to make an appointment call 716.250-2000 and visit www.dentinstitute.com.