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Fox News
20-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Mini-strokes may cause surprising long-term health issue, experts warn
Prolonged fatigue could indicate poor sleep habits — but it could also be a lingering effect of mini-strokes. That's according to a new study from Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, which was published this week in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). A mini-stroke — medically known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes a "short period of symptoms," according to Mayo Clinic. The study found that people who experience a TIA are more likely to report prolonged fatigue lasting up to one year. "Patients with a presumed transient event reported fatigue at levels comparable to a stroke," lead study author Birgitte Hede Ebbesen, PT, PhD, a physiotherapist at Aalborg University Hospital, told Fox News Digital. The researchers followed 354 people averaging 70 years of age who had experienced a mini-stroke. Over a 12-month period, the participants reported their level of fatigue in five areas: overall tiredness, physical tiredness, reduced activity, reduced motivation and mental fatigue, according to a university press release. On a scale ranging from 4 to 20 — with 20 being the most fatigued — the participants reported an average score of 12.3 in the two weeks after the mini-stroke, 11.9 at three months, 11.4 at six months and 11.1 at the one-year mark. Two weeks after the mini-stroke, 61% reported high levels of fatigue. At three, six and 12 months, 54% said they experienced fatigue. Those who reported prolonged fatigue were twice as likely to have experienced anxiety and/or depression, the study found. Some also reported "We had encountered fatigue among patients with TIA in clinical settings, so we knew it was there — but the frequency still surprised us," Modrau told Fox News Digital. "Long-term fatigue was common in our group of study participants, and we found that if people experience fatigue within two weeks of leaving the hospital, it is likely they will continue to have fatigue for up to a year." Based on these findings, Modrau suggests that people diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack should be monitored for lingering fatigue in the ensuing weeks and months. "This could help us better understand who might struggle with fatigue long-term and require further care." The more commonly known symptoms of stroke include face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech, which usually resolve within a day, according to Modrau. Some patients also reported long-term cognitive issues. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, confirmed that fatigue is very common — and sometimes "debilitating" — following a stroke. "Fatigue is multifactorial and can rarely be attributed to a single cause," Serwer, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "Fatigue is multifactorial and can rarely be attributed to a single cause." The Maryland-based cardiologist shared the following potential reasons for fatigue following a mini-stroke. Brain healing: "After a stroke, the brain tries to heal itself," Serwer said. "This process causes the brain to work harder to 'rewire' itself, which results in a higher demand for energy. This often leaves patients feeling drained or fatigued." Increased inflammation: This can occur due to the immune response following a TIA. Lower levels of neurotransmitters in the brain: Reduced levels of chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine can result in depression, fatigue or lack of motivation, according to Serwer. Sleep disturbances: "These are very common after a stroke and can lead to significant sleep deprivation," the cardiologist said. Medications: Drugs used to treat strokes may have adverse side effects, including fatigue. "Betablockers are excellent blood pressure medications and are often prescribed after a stroke or heart attack, but they may cause notable fatigue," Serwer noted. Other factors: "Simple tasks may require more mental effort than before the injury," the cardiologist said. "Depression or anxiety after a stroke can also be a confounding predictor of fatigue." The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted. "It is an observational study and therefore we cannot determine causality," Modrau said. "Results are based on self-reported questionnaires, and we cannot be certain that relatives didn't help fill them out or influence results." The researchers also did not have information on pre-TIA fatigue levels, although previous studies suggested that it was "much more frequent" after mini-strokes. Looking ahead, Modrau said she hopes healthcare providers begin to acknowledge lasting fatigue after TIA and provide care pathways for these patients. For more Health articles, visit "Up until now, patients with lasting challenges after TIA have been left alone in many cases," she told Fox News Digital. "We as a society should start to acknowledge their difficulties instead of viewing them as 'the lucky ones,'" she continued. "My aim with this study has been to give these patients a voice – and to start to listen to their struggles."
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors say a silent 'mini-stroke' may explain your constant fatigue
Feeling persistently exhausted could be due to a mini-stroke you had without realizing, a study suggests. Also known as a transient ischemic attack, they occur due to a brief blockage of blood flow to the brain and can last for up to a day. More than 240,000 Americans and about 45,000 Brits experience one every year but only one in 30 realize they have had one. That's because the symptoms can be easily dismissed: muscle weakness, headaches and vision changes. A group of Danish researchers have now found that these mini-strokes can have much longer lasting effects, leaving sufferers feeling fatigued for up to a year. TIA's can cause fatigue due to several factors including the brain's need to compensate for the temporary disruption in blood flow. The brain has to work harder to complete tasks after a TIA and this effort can lead to increased energy consumption and persistent fatigue. Dr Boris Modrau, a neurology professor at the Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark and lead author of the study said: 'People with a transient ischemic attack can have symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech and these resolve within a day. 'However, some have reported continued challenges including reduced quality of life, thinking problems, depression, anxiety and fatigue.' The study followed 354 people with an average age of 70 who had a mini-stroke for a year. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires about their level of fatigue in the first two weeks after a mini-stroke and again at three, six and 12 months later. Researchers looked at how many participants experienced fatigue by defining it as a score of 12 or higher. Those being analyzed also underwent had brain scans to check for blood clots. The experts discovered that 61 percent of those surveyed experienced increases in their fatigue scores two weeks after the mini-stroke. Half reported fatigue at the three, six and 12 month mark. The scientists also found that participants who reported feeling fatigued were twice as likely to have a history of anxiety and/or depression. The team said that the study was observational and cannot prove that the mini-strokes were behind the persistent fatigue. Dr Modrau said: '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.' He also advised that experts need to focus on whether mini-stroke patients are showing signs of fatigue and provide adequate care. '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,' he concluded. The study has been published today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. While not as extensively as a complete stroke, a mini stroke can cause a certain degree of brain damage when it occurs. This damage can leave a person with muscle weakness, difficulty with coordination and a general sense of weariness - which are all signs of fatigue. Fatigue is medically described as the persistent and excessive feeling of tiredness or lack of energy which interferes with daily activities, even after adequate rest. Particularly, physical fatigue can include muscle weakness, aches, pain, gastrointestinal issues and headaches. While mental fatigue entails difficulty concentrating, learning new tasks, slowed reflexes and impaired decision-making. Brain damage due to a mini-stroke can also change sleeping patterns, emotional distress and memory, all of which can contribute to ongoing tiredness.
