Mini-stroke: It could be the reason for fatigue - how to recognize it

It's called a silent "mini-stroke" and is by no means as harmless as it sounds. Danish researchers have discovered that those affected suffer from constant fatigue for up to a year.

Even if the symptoms disappear on their own within a short period of time, those affected should be aware that “a TIA is not ‘nothing’,” emphasizes Peter Berlit, Secretary General of the DGN.

It manifests itself with neurological signs, yet often goes unnoticed because it passes quickly. "People with a transient ischemic attack may experience symptoms such as a drooping face, arm weakness, or slurred speech that subside within a day," explains Boris Modrau, professor of neurology at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark and lead author of the study . "However, some reported persistent problems such as reduced quality of life, difficulty thinking, depression, anxiety, and fatigue." The study was published inNeurology , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

There are several factors that can cause fatigue after a TIA. The brain has to compensate for the temporary interruption of blood flow. It also has to work harder after a "mini-stroke." This means it requires more energy, which can lead to persistent fatigue.

This means that not all symptoms disappear quickly. The study followed 354 people with an average age of 70 who had suffered a mild stroke for a year.

Pathological fatigue, i.e. chronic exhaustion, often occurred in them up to twelve months after the TIA diagnosis.

• 61 percent of respondents reported an increase in their fatigue levels two weeks after the stroke.
• Half of them still suffered from fatigue after three, six and twelve months.
• If patients report fatigue within 14 days of discharge, it is likely to last up to 12 months.
• The researchers found no evidence of a link between brain injuries and fatigue. However, those with anxiety or depression were more likely to experience fatigue.

The research team also pointed out that the study was observational and could not prove that the stroke was the cause of the persistent fatigue. However, it is a symptom that physicians should keep an eye on.

Modrau advocates monitoring persistent fatigue in people diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack. This could help better understand who suffers from long-term fatigue and requires further treatment.

Precisely because it's often a hidden event and can indicate the risk of a major stroke, you should be aware of the characteristics of a "mini-stroke ." The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke:

1. Paralysis
2. Unsteady gait
3. Visual disturbances
4. Speech disorders
5. Numbness

The symptoms disappear completely within 24 hours at the latest. However, the risk of suffering a stroke after a TIA is on average 10 percent. Those affected are particularly at risk during the first week after the event.

Therefore, you should take each of the warning signs mentioned seriously and contact a doctor immediately, even if you no longer have any symptoms.

"Too many people still don't go to the doctor when their neurological symptoms disappear on their own after a few minutes," criticizes Peter Berlit. This is absolutely necessary, however, to both prevent a stroke and initiate targeted measures early on to maintain brain function as well as possible. You can prevent a "mini-stroke" by maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, maintaining a normal body weight, and not smoking.