How long does it take to finish mild stroke recovery? If you recently experienced a minor stroke, you might have questions about mild stroke recovery time.
As always, it’s important to highlight that every stroke is different and because of that, every recovery will be different. No one can estimate mild stroke recovery time with absolute confidence. But, there are some patterns worth considering for mild stroke patients. These patterns can help each patient understand what lies ahead in their recovery journey.
Mild stroke recovery, in most documented cases, happens on its own. You are probably asking yourself how? It means that your blocked artery corrects itself. In most cases, mild stroke patients return back to normal after 24hours.
You might also find information about mild stroke under term mini-stroke. Mild stroke is a condition in which blood supply is cut off to your brain cells. This state lasts for a few minutes, depending on how severe the artery blockage was. During this time, the patient’s brain cells are missing oxygen and nutrients. Unfortunately, every year 30% of people that suffered from mild strokes experience a regular stroke.
That’s why it’s essential to know what is mild stroke. What are his symptoms, causes, treatments? And finally, how does mild stroke recovery happen. Additionally, it’s really important to know some of the measures to avoid future dangerous health risks.
If you are interested in reading more, and learning what can stroke patients expect during their recovery. We recently covered the topic of full Stroke recovery.
What is a mild stroke?
First thing first, we need to understand the severity of a stroke. It helps to know about NIH Stroke Scale.
The NIH Stroke Scale is a tool used to assess the effects of a stroke on a patient. This scale helps your healthcare personnel to give you a “rating” for different areas. These areas include movement, vision, and speech.
A higher rating in NIHSS indicates a serious stroke, while a lower rating suggests a mild or moderate stroke. A stroke is a mild one when a patient scores less or equal to 5 on NIHSS. (out of a possible 42 score)
Getting a score low as 5 implicates that not many side effects from stroke are present. For example, if the movement was affected, the patient chances to be paralyzed are improbable. Maybe the patient can lift their arm but it may lower down after 10 seconds.
It is also possible for a mild stroke victim, to have a notable deterioration in one area. But a score lower than 5 implies that other areas remain unaffected. For instance, if a speech was severely affected, then vision and mobility would remain intact.
Needless to say, these statements are generalizations. Because we all know that every stroke is different. And that every prognosis will be unique, even for minor strokes.
The difference between Mild Stroke and TIA
The phrase “mild stroke” is sometimes used to refer to TIA. This is incorrect because TIA stands for Transient ischemic attack. And it also has a name “mini-stroke”. The difference between regular strokes and TIAs is that they don’t leave permanent damage.
A mini-stroke happens when a brain experiences a temporary lack of blood flow. But afterward, blood flow returns on its own. Because this is only a temporary state, the symptoms disappear in less than 24 hours.
Regular and mini-strokes share the same symptoms, though. This is why patients need to seek emergency medical attention. Especially, if the patient is experiencing any signs of stroke.
However, it’s not always clear to diagnose the intensity of a stroke. Even if symptoms disappear within the first 24 hours, it’s not necessarily a TIA. A brain or MRI scan can provide the bigger picture. If MRI scan detects brain lesions, they can be diagnosed as a mild stroke. Where brain scans are usually clear after a TIA since there isn’t any permanent damage.
The good news is that mild stroke recovery s often promising. The brain recovers much faster when the stroke’s impact is mild.
Symptoms of Mild Stroke
Although mild stroke symptoms go on their own! The following list can help you figure out the symptoms of mild stroke.
For example,
- Speech and language problems. Because the patients experience severe speech impairments
- Weakness in body and inability to move muscles (also known as muscle numbness).
- Feeling dizzy and cannot understand what’s happening around them.
- Coordination and loss in body balance. When a mild stroke occurs, the patient cannot stand or maintain their balance
- Headache
- Hormonal changes
How long do the symptoms last?
All these symptoms last from a few minutes to 24 hours or 1 day. In most cases, these symptoms fade away on their own.
However, seeking proper care is necessary. In order to avoid letting a mild stroke turn into a regular stroke.
Stroke Recovery Process for Mild Stroke
After a mild stroke, the patient will spend some time at the hospital. But instead of going to the rehab facility, patients are often discharged straight to home care.
If the patients are able to do the activities of daily living on their own. Then they are more likely to go straight home after the hospital. The patient’s rehabilitation team gives instructions to the patients. Instructions for them on how to continue stroke rehabilitation at home.
Once the patient arrives home, recovery is in their hands. It’s up to them to pursue rehabilitation through various home therapy programs. Programs that address their specific needs. Especially if it’s not recommended for them to go to outpatient therapy.
Mild stroke recovery with Motus Health
Today we want to tell you about Motus Health. And how can you use the Motus app to your advantage for mild stroke recovery. Motus Health is a digital health application for stroke patients and their families. We offer exercises in the area of mental, cognitive, and physical therapy. With a goal to bring stroke patient care to home. To learn more about our solution and features you can click on a link here. If you want to see more or get in contact with us, please leave us your email.
How Long Does Mild Stroke Recovery Take?
If a patient had a mild stroke, their stroke recovery timeline will be shorter. Then for others with more severe strokes. But, nothing can be guaranteed as every stroke is different. And thus every stroke recovery journey is different.
Because mild strokes do not usually cause major damage, recovery is typically fast. Recovery from a mild stroke can happen within 3-6 months. And in some cases, it can take longer.
There are many things that affect the time it takes to fully recover. Instead of focusing on recovery time, patients should focus on the recovery process. When patients focus on the steps they can take to recover. They are empowered to take an action. And by doing an action is how results are made.
What other side effects can you experience even after mild stroke recovery?
One-third of mild stroke survivors develop regular stroke, which can lead to permanent disability. On top of it, there are pretty good chances that you will experience a mini-stroke again. That is why seeking medical attention is the priority for stroke survivors.
So, healthy lifestyle changes and eating a balanced diet can prevent regular stroke chances in the future.
Things that can slow down Mild Stroke Recovery
There are various lifestyle and medical reasons that cause a delay in mild stroke recovery.
Lifestyle Causes
Following are the lifestyle causes that delay mild stroke recovery:
- Poor eating habits
- Active or passive smoking
- A prolonged period of inactivity
- Alcohol consumption routine
- Obesity or being overweight
- Extreme stress
Medical Causes
Medical history tells a lot about whether a person will have delayed mild stroke recovery or not.
For instance,
- High blood pressure
- Sleep apnea
- Family history of heart attacks
- High cholesterol levels
- Diabetes
And other related factors contribute to lower chances of full mild stroke recovery.
For this reason, doctors recommend mild stroke patients seek medical assistance at their earliest stage. In order to avoid future health risks in time.
If want to learn more, check Stroke recovery stages by Brunnstorm.
Need for Proactive Approach
There’s a myth that mild stroke victims don’t need to do much to recover. But that’s not true. It’s best not to assume that recovery will take care of itself.
One study assumes that mild stroke patients can achieve full recovery. Recovery with little or no intervention. But, recent studies suggest something different. Patients may experience more long-term impairments. And the hardship with doing complex activities. This means that a full recovery from stroke is not guaranteed. Not even for mild stroke survivors. But, even though it’s not guaranteed doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
The part that makes recovery possible is action. Regardless of the severity of your stroke. It’s important to take part in rehabilitation to maximize your chances of recovery. With a rigorous therapy plan, most mild stroke survivors achieve a full recovery or get very close to one.
We made a list of 5 best brain exercises for stroke recovery, feel free to read more about it.
Organization of Your Recovery Time
Instead of participating in therapy at clinics, mild stroke patients are discharged home. And must keep up with rehab on their own, or with outpatient therapy. Even if you do go to therapy, it is crucial to take part in a rigorous at-home therapy program. This helps the patients get the consistent practice that’s necessary for improvements.
Some mild stroke patients stop doing rehab. Because they feel like they are stuck at the level of impairment that they left off with. This doesn’t have to be true. Throughout our lives, the brain has the ability to change. It will respond, whenever we begin to put in the work. This is why full recovery is possible even years after a stroke.
Again, the essential element is taking action. You get better at the skills that you practice regularly! It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you had your stroke.
Summary for Mild Stroke Recovery
Mild stroke recovery takes less time than recovery from a regular stroke. The results you see will depend on how consistent you are with the therapies.
Because mild stroke victims often do not go to rehab and recovery is in their own hands. But, if you are consistent with the home therapy program, you are likely to expect a full recovery.
