So-called ‘mini-strokes’ can leave you feeling fatigued for as long as a year, according to the results from a recently published study.
Transient ischemic attacks are nicknamed mini-strokes because they involve blockage of blood flow to the brain. Unlike full-blown strokes, the reduced blood flow is temporary and does not result in permanent brain damage. However, more than half of the people who experienced a TIA reported significant long-lasting fatigue, according to the study published in the journal Neurology on May 14.
Notably, the study only lasted a year, so fatigue may have persisted even longer for some individuals.
“People with a transient ischemic attack can have symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech and these resolve within a day,” said study author Boris Modrau, MD, PhD, of Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, in a May 14 press release.
“However, some have reported continued challenges including reduced quality of life, thinking problems, depression, anxiety and fatigue. Our study found that for some people, fatigue was a common symptom that lasted up to one year after the transient ischemic attack.”
The researchers examined 354 people, with an average age of 70, who experienced a TIA. The study assessed fatigue using a questionnaire, with scores ranging from four to 20. The average score was 12.3 at the beginning of the study and 11.1 after 12 months.
The study defined fatigue as any score of 12 or higher. Over 60% of the participants experienced fatigue two weeks following the mini-stroke, and 54% still experienced it at the one-year mark.
“Long-term fatigue was common in our group of study participants, and we found if people experience fatigue within two weeks after leaving the hospital, it is likely they will continue to have fatigue for up to a year,” said Modrau.
“For future studies, people diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack should be followed in the weeks and months that follow to be assessed for lingering fatigue. This could help us better understand who might struggle with fatigue long-term and require further care.”