Page 26 - Healthy food

WHY between a stroke and a TIA is the

time frame. By definition, the
symptoms of a TIA completely
RECOGNISING resolve within 24 hours.
‘A TIA spontaneously clears
itself within a short time – the
THAT clot will break up without any
treatment,’ explains Dr Anupam
Bhattacharjee, consultant
neurologist at the Lister Hospital
MINI STROKE and One Stop Doctors. ‘We now
know TIAs usually resolve within
20 to 30 minutes.’
However, a TIA is still a
can save your life harbinger that something isn’t
right and a full-blown stroke may
follow (see case study on p29).
‘Symptoms will depend on the
area of the brain affected, but
Each year 46,000 people in the UK suffer
doctors can seldom distinguish
a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Never between a TIA and full-blown
heard of it? In short, a TIA is a warning that stroke until after the event, when
you risk a full-blown stroke. Dr Anupam any damage becomes apparent.
Bhattacharjee and Professor Caroline That’s why, if a TIA is suspected,
it should be treated in the same
Watkins say it’s time we took it seriously way as a stroke. You can’t afford
to waste any time,’ warns
AVE YOU FELT DIZZY disabilities. The TV personality Dr Bhattacharjee.
RECENTLY? Or had Chris Tarrant is another celebrity
what you might call who failed to recognise he was What are the signs?
Ha 'funny turn'? If your having a TIA on a long-haul flight. A significant problem is that
episode was in fact a mini stroke His symptoms were initially spotting signs of a TIA can be
– or transient ischaemic attack dismissed as an asthma attack. difficult for both patients and
(TIA) – and you dismissed it at the That ‘funny turn’ so often medical staff. One survey by the
time, you may be putting yourself experienced (which is actually Stroke Association found that
at risk of a full-blown stroke in the a TIA) is a contributory factor one-third of patients who had
future. Health charities the Stroke for 21% of all strokes. suffered a TIA had thought
Association and the British Heart they were just having a
Foundation, along with other Know the FAST drill IT’S ESTIMATED funny turn. One in
medical bodies, are keen to raise The symptoms of a TIA are the 10,000 strokes a four patients
awareness that it’s dangerous to same as a stroke (see p28 for the thought that
year in the UK
ignore a mini-stroke. The FAST test, which will help you could be prevented medical
experience of TV political remember them). The main professionals were
if TIAs were treated
journalist Andrew Marr, who had things to watch for are the face urgently – which too quick to
two suspected mini strokes in drooping on one side, limb dismiss their
means 3,000 lives
2012, is a cautionary tale. weakness, slurred speech or would be saved. symptoms.
In one episode, he said, his inability to talk. If you notice any of Along with
mouth ‘just stopped working’ and these, the sooner you get medical the three main symptoms
he felt overwhelming tiredness. help, the better the outlook. set out in the FAST test, there
The second time he blacked out. may be other symptoms to look
As he was only 53 and kept fit by Heed the warning out for. These include sudden
working out and running, he didn’t A TIA, or mini stroke, presents numbness or weakness down one
associate his symptoms with stroke itself in the same way as a side of the body, sudden memory
and didn’t follow them up. But full-blown ischaemic stroke (this is loss or confusion, dizziness and a
several months later, he suffered a stroke caused by a clot blocking sudden fall, a severe headache,
a life-changing stroke that an artery rather than a bleed on difficulty speaking in clear
has left him with permanent the brain). The only difference sentences or finding words, and

26 HEALTHY FOOD GUIDE FEBRUARY 2018