Myth No. 2: Just wait it out, and if you feel better, ignore it

Most of us have heard stories or actually witnessed it - someone is having stroke-like symptoms but instead of seeking immediate help, simply waits.

And sometimes, the symptoms go away and the person never seeks help.

But it's a myth that you shouldn't bother with help after a transient ischemic attack, or a mini-stroke. They can be precursors for something far, far worse.

Read this story, which I cited several before, on how one in eight strokes are preceded by a mini-stroke:

One out of every eight strokes is preceded by a "warning stroke" called a transient ischemic attack, finds new Canadian research published in the journal Neurology.

Doctors have long known about TIAs or "mini-strokes," but how often they affect patients who go on to have full strokes has not always been clear. It had been estimated that about 10 per cent who have a mini-stroke will have a full-blown stroke within three months. But this study suggests the numbers are higher.

Mini-strokes, or TIAs, have the same symptoms as a full blown stroke, including sudden weakness, slurred speech and difficulty walking. The symptoms last only minutes or hours and since people recover within a day, many don't take them seriously. But doctors say patients who suffer mini-strokes should seek immediate medical treatment, because intensive treatment can prevent a larger stroke.

Even a mini-stroke is too serious to ignore. It could be a warning for something that's anything but "mini."