You might feel a tingling in your hand, a flicker in your vision, or a sudden moment where words just don’t come out right. And then it passes. You move on. Life continues.
But what if that fleeting moment was your body’s final warning — one you can’t afford to overlook?
For many, stroke feels like something that happens to someone else. The elderly. The chronically ill. People far removed from daily routines and long workdays.
But stroke doesn’t discriminate, and it’s increasingly hitting people younger and faster than expected. Even more unsettling: in many cases, it sends a signal first — and we miss it.
That’s what neurologist Dr. Jacek Staszewski, professor at the Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw, wants more people to understand.
Every day, he treats patients in various stages of stroke, and he says the difference between recovery and long-term damage often comes down to whether someone recognized what their body was trying to say.
A Quiet Alarm We Keep Ignoring
Before a full stroke occurs, many people experience a brief episode that feels similar — but resolves on its own.
This isn’t harmless. It’s called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes referred to as a mini-stroke. It usually lasts just a few minutes, but that’s often all the warning you’ll get.
Staszewski explains that TIAs are especially common in people with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and for this group, up to half may experience one of these warning events before a full stroke occurs.
The problem? Most people brush it off — or worse, they’re alone and don’t realize what’s happening.
Common symptoms of a TIA include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Slurred speech or trouble understanding language
- Blurred or double vision
- Facial drooping
- Intense dizziness or loss of balance
While these symptoms often disappear completely within minutes, the event itself should be taken extremely seriously. The fact that the body “bounced back” doesn’t mean it will next time.
Minutes Can Mean the Difference Between Damage and Recovery
Stroke is a condition that thrives on time. The longer a part of the brain is deprived of oxygen, the more permanent the damage becomes.
In modern medicine, doctors have about six hours from the first symptom to attempt to reverse a stroke — through drugs or surgery. The earlier the treatment, the better the chances.
That’s why even a resolved episode should prompt emergency evaluation. If the warning signs are caught, physicians can act preventively: order imaging, prescribe blood thinners, and identify any lurking cardiovascular risks.
A trip to the ER might seem excessive when symptoms fade — but it’s often a second chance in disguise.
Staszewski emphasizes that patients experiencing even short-lived neurological symptoms should seek urgent care.
Quick assessment can not only prevent a major stroke — it can save brain function and preserve independence.
A Strike You Don’t See Coming — But Might Feel
The word “stroke” itself implies violence — a sudden, irreversible blow. But in reality, the body sometimes offers a prelude, a subtle hint of what’s coming. The question is whether we’re paying attention.
Too often, people wait until it’s too late — until slurred speech turns to silence, until weakness becomes paralysis. But for those who listen, who act on the signs even when they seem small, the outcome can be very different.
Recognizing a mini-stroke is about more than just awareness. It’s about knowing when not to wait.
This article is based on information from Medonet