Mild strokes, (also known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA), are both a blessing and a cursing. The reason why mild strokes can be a blessing is that at least they let a person know they are prone to getting strokes before any major damage is done to their bodies. With this knowledge they can take preventative measures by taking stroke medication. However, mild strokes are a curse because many people never go to the doctor when they get one. And the consequences associated with ignoring a mild stroke could lead to one that may be much more serious... maybe even deadly.

With that being said, how can a person tell if they've had a mild stroke? Well, the signs of a mild stroke are basically the same as what one gets with a 'regular' stroke. This includes paralysis on one side of the body, slurred speech and general confusion. But the difference between mild stroke and a regular stroke is that the symptoms don't last as long. In fact, many mild strokes only last a few minutes, but the damage has still been done. Not only has the mild stroke killed invaluable brain cells, but it has also left the damaged vessels even more vulnerable to a more serious stroke attack in the future.

If you find you are experiencing the signs of a mild stroke, get medical attention immediately. Doctors may treat you as an emergency patient even if your mild stroke symptoms have passed. You may be given drugs to help treat the mild stroke, otherwise, you may be prepped for surgery. That's right... even a mild stroke can be serious enough to require emergency surgery. You may not want to experience such things, but it's a lot better trying to treat a minor stroke than treating one that is more major. At least with a minor stroke you will probably retain all of your facilities.

During the surgery doctors will try to get rid of the cause that resulted in the minor stroke in the first place. This usually involves removing a fatty deposit that may have gotten stuck in one of the blood vessels of the brain. When the surgery is finished, doctors will prescribe drugs that will help prevent these nasty clots from forming in the first place. Most of the drugs will work as blood thinners, but some may attack the clot as soon as it starts forming.

If your mild stroke did cause neurological damage, you will probably be recommended into a stroke rehabilitation program. Through this program you will learn how to gain back whatever facility you lost through a series of physical therapy treatments. You may also be given psychological counseling, since having to deal with a stroke can be just as painful mentally/emotionally as it can be physically.

In conclusion, mild strokes are actually a misnomer. They are not really mild, and are serious medical conditions that require immediate treatment. Sure, you may be a little scared going to the doctor, but ignoring mild strokes will not make whatever caused them in the first place go away.