Mini-Stroke Warning Signs: The Stroke That Starts in Your Neck
About this video
For World Stroke Day, Dr Andrew Choong explains the stroke that starts in the carotid arteries of the neck. One in four of us will have a stroke in our lifetime. The video covers the FAST warning signs (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, time to call 995) and the sudden loss of vision in one eye; why symptoms that pass within minutes are a mini-stroke, or transient ischaemic attack, and a warning rather than a reprieve; how cholesterol plaque in a carotid artery can break off and block an artery in the brain; how a simple ultrasound scan of the neck shows whether a carotid artery is narrowed; and the two treatments, carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting, whose benefit is greatest in the first two weeks after the warning.
Transcript. One in four of us will have a stroke in our lifetime. And some of the most preventable ones don't start in the brain. They start in your neck. I'm Dr Andrew Choong, vascular surgeon in Singapore, and today is World Stroke Day. First, know the signs. Think FAST. Face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, time to call 995, and watch for the sudden loss of vision in one eye. Sometimes these symptoms go away within minutes. That's a mini stroke and it's a warning. Often the cause is your carotid arteries, which carry blood up the neck to the brain. Cholesterol plaque builds up inside them and a piece can break off and block an artery in the brain. A simple ultrasound scan of the neck shows if an artery is narrowed. If it is, we can remove the plaque through a small cut in the neck or hold the artery open with a stent. The benefit is greatest in the first two weeks. So, especially if the signs and symptoms go away, go to the emergency department today. Think FAST. Every minute counts.
Related patient information
- Mini-stroke (TIA) warning signs: the full World Stroke Day post
- Carotid artery disease and stroke prevention
- Carotid surgery and stenting
- Vascular ultrasound
- The Straits Times Forum letter: pay attention to the mini-stroke that seems to go away
More stroke and carotid videos
Face drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty can be signs of stroke. Call 995 in Singapore immediately, even if symptoms improve.
For an individual assessment or second opinion, contact Andrew Choong Vascular Surgery at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, #09-22, 38 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329563.
This video provides general information and does not replace individual medical advice. For a medical emergency in Singapore, call 995.
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