Minor Stroke


Some people experience minor strokes called Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA). For some people, these strokes happen regularly. A patient that experiences TIAs is at greater risk for a larger, more serious stroke.

The following video was posted by the University Health Network of Toronto. It was filmed by a patient having a TIA to show and explain what they are like for her. *It is important to note that while many patients with TIA will exhibit a similar response as this patient, experiences may vary.

Risk Factors


Characteristics and environmental factors that increase your risk of having a stroke are:

  • hypertension
  • atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat)
  • diabetes
  • smoking
  • high cholesterol
  • heavy use of alcohol
  • being overweight
  • physical inactivity
  • sleep apnea
  • taking hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives with estrogen
  • increasing age
  • race
  • biological sex
  • family history
  • history of stroke