Journalist Rageh Omaar suffered a suspected mini-stroke during the ITV News at Ten program on Friday.
He was seen slurring his words as he presented the latest bulletin news and his left eye appeared to start to droop.
Both are warning signs of a stroke, when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off. Mini strokes, or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), are a brief blockage that does not cause permanent disability.
The veteran journalist was seen slurring his words as he presented the latest story on the 10 o’clock news, and his left eye appeared to begin to droop, leading many to fear he was unwell.
A TIA is a warning that you are at risk of having a full-blown stroke in the near future. That is why it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms quickly and call 999.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a “mini-stroke,” is caused by a temporary interruption in the blood supply to a part of the brain, which kills brain cells.
Disruption of blood flow to the brain prevents it from functioning normally, causing symptoms such as slurred speech and weakness, the NHS warns.
Like a stroke, the symptoms of a mini stroke also begin suddenly.
But unlike a stroke, it only lasts a few minutes or hours and resolves completely.
A TIA is a warning that you are at risk of having a full-blown stroke in the near future.
The main symptoms can be remembered with the four-letter acronym, FAST. This breaks down into face, arms, speech and time.
When someone has a stroke, you may notice that their face has fallen to one side, they may not be able to smile or their mouth may have drooped, the NHS says.
It also warns that the person having the stroke may not be able to lift both arms. This is because they may have weakness in one of their arms.
Speech is also important, warns the NHS. This is because during a stroke the person’s speech may become garbled or garbled, they may not be able to speak at all, and they may also have trouble understanding what you are saying.
Once you have noticed these warning signs, it is important to act quickly and call 999 immediately for help.
Every year, at least 46,000 people in the UK suffer a TIA, according to the Stroke Association.
Age, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes are known to increase the risk of stroke and mini-stroke.
But FAST symptoms are not the only ones to pay attention to.
There are other symptoms that are equally common to pay attention to, according to the NHS.
If someone has a mini stroke, they may also experience other symptoms such as dizziness and confusion, which may appear suddenly.
The NHS says complete paralysis on one side of the body and problems with balance and coordination are also symptoms to look out for.
Someone who suffers a mini stroke may also experience sudden vision loss, blurred vision, or double vision.
It can also make some people feel dizzy, dizzy, and sick, as well as cause confusion and difficulty understanding what people are saying.
The NHS adds that a mini stroke can also cause difficulty swallowing, which is medically known as dysphagia.
