According to research by Radboud University Medical Center, people who have suffered a mild stroke may indeed have lasting problems. Researchers at the academic hospital in Nijmegen see a much greater risk of falling in this group. Tests also show that patients have more balance and walking problems after a mild stroke.
A mild stroke is also called TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). It is a temporary blockage of a brain vessel by a blood clot and is often considered a serious warning sign: without measures, a more serious infarction can follow. In general, people who are hospitalized after a TIA can go home after a few days. They are then seen one more time at an aftercare clinic, but then they disappear from view because they have no clear complaints.
Fall twice as often
In this study, in which TU Delft also participated, seventy people were examined who had suffered a TIA six months earlier. They took balance and gait measurements, kept track of their movements and activities and reported any falls for a year.
Compared to a control group, patients appear to fall twice as often after a TIA. They also score less well on balance tests than people who have not had a mild stroke. “The participants in our study were still relatively young, in their early sixties,” lead researcher Vivian Weerdesteyn explained in a statement. “They resume their daily lives after the event. Some are still working and are living life to the full. Yet these people have problems, we now see.”
The insights from the research can be used to limit the risks. Weerdesteyn recommends that people take a fall prevention course after a mild stroke. (AP)
