His arm suddenly became weak.

Ten minutes later, the strength returned, so the family cancelled the trip to the hospital.

That relief can be dangerously misleading.

Temporary stroke symptoms may be caused by a transient ischaemic attack, called a TIA. This happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted briefly.

The weakness may disappear. The speech may return to normal. But at home, you cannot tell whether the person has had a TIA or a stroke. Emergency assessment is still needed.

Remember ‘BE FAST’

B for sudden loss of balance
E for sudden changes in eyesight
F for one side of the face drooping
A for weakness or numbness in one arm
S for slurred or confused speech
T means it is time to call for emergency help

Call even if the symptoms disappear while help is on the way. Note the exact time they started. Do not give food, drink or aspirin unless an emergency professional tells you to do so.

Nearly one in five people with a suspected TIA will have a stroke within three months. Almost half of those strokes happen within two days.

A TIA is not a harmless “partial stroke.” It is an opportunity to investigate the cause and prevent a potentially disabling stroke.

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