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Ministroke or Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

A ministroke or transient ischemic attack occurs when the brain experience a temporary lack of blood flow. This is generally resolved within 24 hours. The symptoms of stroke and mini stroke are nearly similar, so sometimes it also required emergency medical attention. Report estimates 795,000 people each year in the United States have a stroke and about 185,000 strokes occur in people who’ve already had at least one stroke.

New guidelines from the American Stroke Association (ASA) and American Health Association (AHA) encourage doctors to help their patients avoid another or second stroke.

Having had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) increases the risk of second stroke. According to Dr.Amytis Towfighi, vice chair of the guideline writing group for the AHA and director of neurological services at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, approximately 80 percent of strokes can be prevented by changing lifestyle like eating a healthy diet, controlling blood pressure, regular physical activity, keeping healthy weight and not smoking.

Common symptoms of Ministroke: Although the symptoms are difficult to identify but few of the symptoms indicates the sign of ministroke. This includes:

•  Vision changes
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Severe headache
• An abnormal sense of taste and smell
• Dysarthria or physical difficulty when speaking

Risk Factors for Mini Stroke: The risk factor includes:

• High Blood Pressure 
• Diabetes
• High Cholesterol
• Smoking
• Obesity

5 important lifestyle changes

For those who have had a stroke or TIA, future stroke or second stoke can be prevented by managing risk factors as mentioned above and changing lifestyle which includes:

Stroke survivors should limit salt intake and follow a mediterranean diet and engaged in aerobic activity for at least 20 minutes twice a week.

According to Dr Andrew Freeman, cardiologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, five important lifestyle changes can help to lower the chances of a second stroke. Which includes:

• Connectedness: Data showed that connectedness with family and friends evidently improves vascular outcomes.
• Daily exercise: Exercise for at least for 30 minutes including walking or similar activity will help a lot and also prevent from struggling to breath. 
• Healthy Diet: Eat a low fat, salt cut, whole food, plant-based diet has been shown to stop the progress of coronary disease and vascular disease, and can also help to maintain a moderate weight.
• Sleep: Uninterrupted sleep of at least 7 hours is best for overall cardio and cerebrovascular outcomes.
• Stress: Stress has a great impact on blood pressure, and so it is important to control stress and blood pressure as well. 

To lower the chance of second stroke,  the best way is to improve lifestyle and diet. According to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, people who have had a stroke should adopt a healthy diet, regular exercise program, minimise stress and get adequate sleep to prevent themselves from the second stroke.