If waking up with blurry vision or experiencing sudden sight loss in one or both eyes. Most individuals may overlook these symptoms as a temporary or trivial issue, but they may be an indicator of a serious condition—a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also referred to as a mini-stroke.

Each year, around 46,000 individuals within the UK have their first TIA. Contrary to its title, a mini-stroke is not something that should be treated lightly. It is a serious warning that a full-scale stroke may be pending. Knowing the symptoms, causes, and prevention of TIA can prompt you into action and save lives.

What is a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)?

Transient ischemic attack results when blood flow to the brain is briefly obstructed, most commonly by a blood clot or constricted blood vessels. A TIA, unlike a full stroke, reverses within hours to minutes and does not produce lasting brain damage. But they are a signal of a greater chance of a future stroke—a little more than one in three people who experience a TIA will have a stroke within one year.

Physicians today depend on sophisticated imaging methods such as MRI scans, in addition to clinical evaluations, to decide if a subject has suffered a TIA or a stroke. TIAs, if left untreated, can lead to more serious cerebrovascular phenomena, and therefore early detection and treatment are paramount.

Vision processing engages about one-third of the brain and thus is especially at risk during a TIA. If a clot or interrupted blood supply to the area of the brain that controls vision occurs, people can experience the following brief symptoms:

• Blurry vision in one or both eyes
• Double vision
• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes

The nerves that regulate eye movement can also be impaired, causing misalignment and an inability to focus. Although these symptoms can resolve in a few hours, they are not to be taken lightly. Sudden, unexpected visual abnormalities require prompt medical care.

Identifying the Symptoms of a Mini Stroke

Symptoms of TIA tend to resemble those of a full stroke. The acronym FAST can be used to identify major warning signs:

Face: One side of the face may droop, making it difficult to smile.

Arms: The person may struggle to lift and hold both arms due to weakness.

Speech: Slurred or incoherent speech, or difficulty understanding others, may occur.

Time: If any of these symptoms appear, call emergency services immediately.

Other symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Difficulty articulating words or forming sentences
• Memory loss, confusion, dizziness, or sudden falls
• Severe headaches without a known cause

Because it is not possible to know whether symptoms are due to a TIA or a complete stroke when they first appear, immediate medical help is important. Early treatment can greatly minimize the risk of permanent injury or a subsequent stroke.

What Triggers a TIA?

TIAs result from temporary interruptions in blood flow, usually caused by several factors. Blood clots can develop within brain arteries, obstructing flow and causing fleeting symptoms. In others, clots migrate from elsewhere in the body to the brain, raising the risk for a stroke even further. The narrowing of arteries through plaque buildup also inhibits flow and makes people more vulnerable to TIAs. Trauma to blood vessels can also have an effect on flow, as well as cause these transient ischemic attacks. Treating these causes through changes in lifestyle, medicine, and periodic health check-ups is vital to reducing stroke risk.

How to Lower Your Risk of a TIA or Stroke?

Although some risk factors, including age or family history, cannot be altered, there are a number of changes in lifestyle that can greatly reduce your risk of having a TIA or stroke:

1. Follow a Heart-Healthy Diet

A diet of whole foods, such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and legumes, can help cardiovascular health. Salt reduction can be used to control blood pressure, an important risk factor for stroke.

2. Exercise Regularly

Having a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly can enhance circulation, lower cholesterol levels, and keep one healthy weight, all of which aid in preventing strokes.

3. Quit Smoking

Smoking raises blood clot risk and damage to arteries and is thus a leading cause of strokes. See a doctor to come up with a plan for quitting.

4. Reduce Alcohol Intake

Drinking too much alcohol increases blood pressure and makes blood vessels fragile. Adhere to suggested levels—two drinks a day for men and one drink for women.

5. Control Stress Levels

Chronic stress is associated with hypertension and heart disease. Mindfulness, slow breathing, or doing hobbies can lower health risks associated with stress.

Importance of Immediate Medical Attention

Although symptoms may clear up within hours, a TIA is a warning sign that a full-blown stroke may be lurking ahead. Medical attention enables physicians to assess your risk and prescribe medication such as blood thinners, diet changes, or procedures for clearing out clogged arteries.

If you or a person you know has sudden vision changes, speech difficulty, or weakness in the body on one side, don't dismiss them. Taking prompt action can help avoid a deadly stroke and maybe even save a life.

“Heartbreaks happen to many people, it’s ok” or “You’ll move on, it’s a heartbreak, not the end of the world” and similar phrases as these are ones we have all heard. However, how much truth these sentences hold has been questioned. Many people experience mental health issues after experiencing heartbreak like depressive episodes and anxiety symptoms. However, did you know that heartbreaks can actually affect your heart?

The pain associated with heartbreaks is often thought of as psychological, but it can actually weaken the ability to pump blood effectively. This is a condition known as the broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

According to the Harvard Health Publishing, it is a sudden change in the shape of the heart's left ventricle, which is its primary pumping chamber. This is a concerning issue as it weakens the heart’s ability to effectively circulate blood throughout the body.

The British Heart Foundation explains that some people, like women over 50s are more susceptible to getting this issue. It could also be an issue if you have other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

Symptoms Mimic A Heart Attack

Harvard explains that most cases of this syndrome occur in the age frames of 58 to 75. 5% of these women thought they were having a heart attack. The symptoms can indeed be very similar to those of a heart attack and may include:

• Sudden, intense chest pain
• A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart palpitations (irregular or forceful heartbeat)
• Feeling faint or lightheaded
• Nausea

Can Stress Cause This Issue?

While the precise cause of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains under investigation, medical experts believe that a sudden surge of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, triggered by intense emotional distress, plays a significant role. The syndrome often occurs following significant emotional events like bereavement, serious illness, or trauma, which is why it's commonly referred to as 'broken heart syndrome'. But that is not the only reason why you may experience this, other causes may include sudden drop in blood pressure, severe pain, asthma attack, intense fear, serious illnesses or surgery, etc.

When doctors are diagnosing this syndrome, they look for things like, no evidence of blockages in the angiogram, which helps them rule out heart attacks, they also use imaging techniques like echocardiogram, that will show abnormalities in the left ventricle.

Fortunately, it is temporary. The condition is typically managed with medications aimed at reducing the strain on the heart and minimizing the risk of complications. These medications can include:

• Diuretics (to reduce fluid buildup)
• Beta blockers (to slow heart rate and lower blood pressure)
• Blood thinners (to prevent blood clots)

Can You Prevent Broken Heart Syndrome?

While most people recover fully, approximately one in ten patients may experience a recurrence of broken heart syndrome. Additionally, some individuals may have persistent symptoms or lasting changes to the shape of their heart, potentially requiring long-term medication.

Once a person has fully recovered from broken heart syndrome, it is advisable to focus on managing stress levels, adopting a healthy diet, and maintaining regular physical activity to help prevent future episodes.

Misleading signs are often worse than no signs, you may be working on the symptoms when the disease is already doing damage to your body. When something goes wrong in our body, most of us can catch onto it. However, we almost always tackle the most obvious issue, not knowing there could be something worse going on.

A similar issue happens to a UK-based woman, named, Loise who was suffering with high blood pressure and dismissed it as a symptom of menopause. Soon she found out that it was in fact not menopause that she was going through, rather she had been battling kidney cancer and did not know about it.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide with nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Cancer is a generic term for many different diseases that affect parts of one's body, according to the World Health Organization. Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer in UK adults and 14th most common cancer worldwide. According to Cancer Research UK, the average number of cases reported for kidney cancer in 2017-19 UK was 13,834. It is also more common in the elderly, aged 80-84, and there has been a 92% rise in the incidence rates of kidney cancer since the 1990s.

Misleading Symptoms and Important Warnings

In the Kidney Cancer UK's TikTok page, Louise's highlights the critical importance of recognizing that not all symptoms in middle-aged women are solely due to hormonal changes. In her case, the elevated blood pressure was an indicator of an aggressive form of kidney cancer.

Often, kidney cancer doesn't manifest with clear and distinct symptoms, and it is frequently discovered incidentally during tests conducted for other health concerns. Louise emphasized the challenge of diagnosis, "Symptoms are unfortunately vague, especially for women, as it includes high blood pressure, night sweats, blood in your urine and flank pain. GPs often relate these to menopause symptoms." She strongly advises everyone to "regularly scan your body" and to pay attention to persistent discomfort. She urged, "How long have those niggling pains been there? Get them checked - always better to be safe than sorry!"

What To Expect After The Diagnosis?

Reflecting on her own diagnosis, Louise recounted having "high blood pressure but unseen blood" in her urine. She explained how her cancer was detected, "I was lucky routine bloods picked up an issue with my liver, prompting ultrasound."

Her treatment journey involved significant surgical interventions, "I have now had two major surgeries to remove cancer and my kidney within the last 15 months. I'm three weeks post open surgery and recovering well." The outcome of recent tests brought encouraging news, "The news that all the biopsies came back as not cancer has been amazing."

Currently, Louise is managing side effects from her immunotherapy treatment. Looking ahead, Louise remains realistic but hopeful "My cancer was the most aggressive at grade 4 so there will always be a high chance of it coming back, but medications and research is changing all the time and I have faith that the surveillance scans will help us nip anything untoward in the bud!"

Kidney Cancer Symptoms You Should Look Out For

While kidney cancer often progresses without noticeable symptoms, the NHS indicates that when they do appear, they can include:

• Blood in your pee
• A lump or swelling in your back, under your ribs, or in your neck
• Persistent pain between your ribs and waist
• Unexplained loss of appetite or weight loss
• Persistent fatigue or lack of energy
• A recurring high temperature
• Excessive sweating, particularly at night

Throughout the first week of April, the state of Kentucky witnessed flooding, due to heavy rains, specifically in the Franklin County. The reason being, it is located on the Kentucky River for over 200 years. While such natural disasters can cause distress in terms of physical safety, expert also reveals that such natural disasters could impact one's mental health too.

Natural disasters like Kentucky's recent flooding can have serious impacts on victim's mental health, reveals Christal Badour, associate professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky and a trauma recovery research.

As reported in Weku NPR, the UK psychologist explains that reactions to traumatic events typically fall into short-term and long-term symptoms. These include people feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, and difficulty communicating. While most people eventually recover without lasting effects, some may struggle for a longer duration.

These long-term issues include depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Badour also notes that people who already had a mental health difficulty before the natural disaster could also further feel isolated. Along with that, individuals with fewer financial resources could be at more risk of long-term problems.

Are These Long-term Symptoms Common?

According to a report from Clinical Psychology Review, 20 to 80% of people will experience long-term symptoms after a disaster. These rates could vary depending on the type of disaster one faces. PTSD symptoms often improve after the first year, however, depression and anxiety are more likely to linger.

What Do Other Experts Say?

There have been previous studies too that confirm the same. As per a 2024 study, titled Impact of Natural Disasters on Mental Health: Evidence and Implications, by Eamin Z Heanoy and Norman R Brown, notes: "Natural disasters are large-scale catastrophic events, and they are increasing in frequency and severity. Converging evidence indicates that the mental health consequences of disasters are extensive and are often associated with trauma and the disruption of personal and socioeconomic factors in people’s lives."

However, the study also notes that although most individuals who experience disaster-related traumatic events do not develop mental illnesses, some could experience adverse psychological effects of the disaster.

Another expert, Nomy Levy-Carric, MD, MPhil, writes for Mass General Brigham, which is an institute dedicated to serving the community and enhancing patient care, teaching, and research, notes that natural disaster can indeed leave a lasting impact on individuals, families, and often an entire community.

Levy Carrick notes: "A person’s reaction depends on many factors, including their past experiences, what is happening in their life at that moment, the nature of their exposure, and the support available to them as they rebuild. The sudden loss of control and uncertainty can be overwhelming, making it harder to cope in both the short and long term."

What Are The Types Of Natural Disasters?

• Hurricanes and tropical storms
• Earthquakes
• Tornadoes
• Wildfire
• Floods
• Blizzards and winter storms
• Drought and extreme heat
• Landslides and mudslides

The doctor notes the Psychological First Aid or PFA provides a structured way to support emotional recovery immediately after a disaster.

However, notes Badour, there is still a major gap in treatment. Most disaster relief services only last up to one year.

“After that year has passed, a lot of people feel like there's no one there to help them, especially if you're in a community that was already lacking in mental health support and resources,” she said.