Stroke "is a life-threatening illness, but when the word" small "is added before" stroke ", most people's vigilance is compromised, believing that" small stroke "can be recovered without treatment and there is no need to make a fuss. However, it has caused great trouble due to" small stroke ". In recent years, research has found that patients with small strokes have a high risk of developing stroke in the early stages, ranging from 4% to 10% within 7 days and from 10% to 20% within 90 days (with an average of 11%). The incidence rate of small stroke patients in the first year is 13~16 times higher than that of the general population. Small stroke patients are not only prone to stroke, but also prone to myocardial infarction and sudden death. The total risk of minor stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, and death events within 90 days is as high as 25%. If handled properly, the 90 day stroke risk can be reduced to 1% to 3%. That is to say, people who experience transient ischemic attacks are more likely to experience fatal diseases such as stroke (cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction), myocardial infarction, sudden death, etc. in the short term. If detected and treated early, the risk of these diseases can be reduced. So, what is a 'minor stroke'? What is the cause of "minor stroke"? What are the clinical manifestations of minor stroke? Who is prone to 'minor strokes'? Do you need treatment for a 'minor stroke'? How to prevent "minor stroke"? In response to these questions, Jing Yingying from the Department of Neurology at Yangpu Hospital affiliated with Tongji University provided answers. What is a 'minor stroke'? In medicine, a "small stroke" is called a transient ischemic attack or TIA, which refers to a brain dysfunction caused by a decrease in cerebral blood flow in a short period of time. Its characteristic is a sudden onset, lasting for several minutes, and patients usually fully recover to normal within 30 minutes. Small strokes often occur repeatedly, ranging from several times a day to several weeks, months, or even years. Compared with "stroke", the symptoms and signs of "minor stroke" in clinical practice are not obvious. Due to the sudden onset, short duration, and no residual effects of "minor stroke", it is easily overlooked by people. What is the cause of "minor stroke"? 1. Atherosclerosis: The main cause of "small stroke" is arteriosclerosis. Fat deposits called atherosclerotic plaques appear in the arteries of the major arteries (such as carotid arteries and vertebral artery) that supply blood to the brain. The atherosclerotic plaques may form thrombus. After the thrombus breaks into fragments, it forms embolism along with the flow of blood to the cerebral vessels, leading to transient cerebral ischemia and "small stroke". 2. Microembolism: When a small blood vessel in a local area of brain tissue narrows, closes, or undergoes spasms, temporary interruption or significant decrease in blood supply occurs, causing local cerebral ischemia; The embolus in the heart falls off and flows into the cerebral artery with blood circulation, blocking the small arteries of the brain and causing microemboli, leading to insufficient blood supply to the brain and causing a "small stroke". 3. Changes in blood composition: increased blood viscosity, abnormal blood lipids, increased blood sugar, increased red blood cells, increased platelets, abnormal coagulation factors, dehydration, etc. can all induce or cause "minor strokes". 4. Decreased blood oxygen content: hypoxemia caused by lung diseases such as COPD and sleep apnea syndrome