Journalist Rageh Omaar suffered a suspected mini-stroke during ITV News at Ten on Friday.
He was seen slurring his words as he introduced the breaking news item on the bulletin and his left eye appeared to droop.
Both are warning signs of a stroke, in which blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Mini-strokes, or transient ischemic attacks (TIA), are a brief blockage that does not cause permanent disability.
The veteran journalist was seen slurring his words as he introduced the breaking news item on the News at 10 bulletin and his left eye appeared 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. So it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms quickly and call 999
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a ‘mini-stroke’, is caused by a temporary disruption of blood flow to part of the brain, which kills brain cells.
The interruption of blood supply to the brain prevents it from functioning normally, leading to symptoms such as slurred speech and weakness, the NHS warns.
Like a stroke, the symptoms of a mini-stroke also start suddenly.
But unlike a stroke, it lasts only a few minutes or hours and disappears 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 by the four-letter acronym, FAST. This is broken down into face, arms, speech and time.
If someone has a stroke, you may notice that their face has fallen to one side, they may no longer be able to smile or their mouth has drooped, the NHS says.
It also warns that the person having the stroke may not be able to lift both arms. That’s because they may have weakness in one of their arms.
Speech is also important, the NHS warns. That’s because during a stroke, the person’s speech may become slurred or unreadable, they may not be able to speak at all, and they may also have trouble understanding what you say.
Once you have noticed these warning signs, it is important to act quickly and call 999 for help immediately.
According to the Stroke Association, at least 46,000 people in Britain suffer a TIA every year.
Age, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes are known to increase the risk of stroke and mini-stroke.
But the FAST symptoms aren’t the only ones you should watch out for.
There are other symptoms that the NHS says should be looked out for just as often.
If someone has a mini-stroke, he or she may also experience other symptoms, such as dizziness and confusion, both of which can come on suddenly.
The NHS says that complete paralysis of one side of the body and problems with balance and coordination are also symptoms to look out for.
Someone who experiences a mini-stroke may also experience sudden vision loss, blurred vision, or double vision.
It can also cause some people to feel dizzy, experience dizziness and become ill, as well as cause confusion and difficulty understanding what people are saying.
The NHS adds that a mini-stroke can also cause difficulty swallowing, medically known as dysphagia.