Is a stroke a disease that develops gradually, or does it occur suddenly?

Strokes occur suddenly and all at once; they pose a very serious threat to a patient’s life. This condition requires immediate medical attention. Receiving first aid in the very first hours after the stroke occurs is very important and improves the overall prognosis for the patient, meaning it improves the chances for a potential full recovery, or a recovery with minimalized consequences. Medical Condition There is however, another medical condition which is characterized by transitory stroke symptoms, which may come and go for periods of time that range from a few minutes to a few hours. This condition is called a transitory ischemic attack (TIA). This condition causes the brain to not be supplied with blood from time to time, which causes in turn the appearance of the visible symptoms; Such as various motor or sensory disorders which appear and subside from time to time.T his can be considered as a mini-stroke, and it should be immediately treated because it constitutes a warning sign that a complete brain stroke may occur in the near future. Therefore, it is highly recommended to contact a medical professional despite the symptoms subsiding.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on
Medical Author: Dr. med. Diana Hysi