WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE...

...between a stroke and a mini-stroke?

A STROKE occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, causing damage. Depending on how bad and where in the brain the damage is, long-term disability may occur.

The most common type is an ischaemic stroke, when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood. Clots typically form in areas where the arteries have been narrowed or blocked over time by fatty deposits known as plaques – a process called atherosclerosis. A stroke can also be caused by a burst blood vessel in the brain.

A mini-stroke, or a transient ischaemic attack, has the same cause as an ischaemic stroke. However the blockage is brief and there’s no permanent damage.

They tend to be a warning sign that stroke risk is high.