http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3698439/Just-funny-turn-Fleeting-mini-strokes-suffered-50-000-Britons-year-cause-long-term-anxiety-depression-fatigue.html
Fleeting ‘mini-strokes’ suffered by 50,000 Britons a year may have a long-lasting impact, experts warn.
Mini-strokes,
also called transient ischemic attacks or TIAs, are usually considered a
short-term issue and are often dismissed as exhaustion, a migraine or a
‘funny turn’.
When they are taken seriously at all, it is usually because they can be a warning sign that a major stroke is on the way.
But
research by the University of Birmingham suggests that mini-strokes are
problematic in themselves, causing lasting cognitive impairment,
depression and fatigue.
A
mini-stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is momentarily
disrupted, causing numbness in the face, arms and legs which usually
resolves within a few minutes. Most patients dismiss the episodes
because they feel they have recovered soon afterwards.
But
the latest findings, published in the European Journal of Neurology,
reveal that 45 per cent of patients who suffer a mini-stroke experience
lasting cognitive impairment.
Some
43 per cent complain of fatigue, while 26 per cent have a psychological
impairment such as anxiety or depression. About one in seven major
strokes are preceded by a TIA, with many coming within a week of the
other.
BBC
broadcaster Andrew Marr, 56, who had a near-fatal stroke in 2013,
realised afterwards that he had suffered two TIAs in the preceding
months, dismissing them both as ‘funny turns’.
His
wife Jackie Ashley said later that the most obvious of these occurred
when he was filming in Greece, and ‘had an overwhelming sensation of
tiredness’. She said: ‘He was helped into the crew car and left to sleep
for the afternoon in a local village, after which he felt better and
was able to complete filming. At the time he put it down to jet lag.
‘A
few months later he went on to have a major, life-changing stroke,
which resulted in four months in hospital, eight months off work and
permanent disability.’
The
University of Birmingham researchers compared GP surgery records of
9,500 patients who had suffered a mini-stroke with a control group of
46,500 people from the same age range.
TIA
patients were far more likely to complain of psychological impairment,
cognitive difficulties and fatigue, the study found. Some had symptoms
so extreme that they were unable to work or socialise.
Research by the University of
Birmingham suggests that mini-strokes are problematic in themselves,
causing lasting cognitive impairment, depression and fatigue (file
photo)
Researcher
Dr Grace Turner said: ‘There have been a number of small studies which
suggest long term impacts of TIA, but nothing on this scale, and nothing
that included a control group for comparison.
‘These
findings present an urgent need to revisit clinical guidelines for TIA.
They can no longer be considered “transient” or “temporary”, there is a
potential long-term impact. In some cases people may not be able to
return to work, or participate in social activities, and there is a very
real impact on their quality of life.’
Richard
Francis, of the Stroke Association charity, said: ‘We know that there’s
nothing small about mini-stroke, and these results indicate that
although the symptoms of mini-stroke may be fleeting, the condition
could have a long-term effect on people’s health.
‘This
latest study suggests that, following a mini-stroke, people are more
likely to consult their doctor for long-term health conditions.’
Two
months ago, research from Oxford University found that taking an
aspirin immediately after a TIA slashed the risk of a subsequent
full-blown stroke by up to 80 per cent.
If patients report to hospital after a TIA they are always given aspirin.
But
the study, published in the Lancet journal, found that if they took
aspirin themselves as soon as they felt unwell it was far more
effective.
Because
of the delay, taking aspirin in hospital slashes the stroke risk by
only 15 per cent. But taken immediately, the impact was 80 per cent.
Experts
advise that if patients think they are having a mini-stroke they should
take a 300mg tablet of aspirin – a normal dose – then call 999.
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