Kim Zolciak Suffers a ‘Mini Stroke’ — What Does That Mean?

Molly Shea
·Beauty and Health Editor
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Kim posted a picture to Instagram today of herself in the hospital. (Photo: Instagram.com/kimzolciakbermann)

Real Housewives of Atlanta and Don’t Be Tardy star Kim Zolciak-Biermann posted on Instagram that she’d suffered a “mini stroke” on Wednesday (Sept. 23).

The Dancing With The Stars contestant started experiencing numbness and speech loss after a red-eye flight from LAX to Atlanta, and her family acted quickly to get her to the hospital and in the care of doctors. She said on her Instagram feed that she has fully recovered feeling in her body, and will be released later today (Sept. 24).

What is a mini stroke, exactly? Officially called a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, it’s caused when a clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. The difference between a mini stroke and a full-blown stroke is that the blood-flow blockage with a mini stroke is only temporary — meaning the symptoms occur quickly, but only last for a short period of time (typically less than five minutes, while the average is one minute), according to the American Stroke Association. Mini strokes also don’t cause any permanent damage to the brain.

Kim should make a full recovery, though her TIA may be a wake-up call for what’s to come, the American Stroke Association cautions: “TIA is a warning stroke and gives a patient time to act and keep a permanent stroke from occurring.”

Blood clots that lead to strokes can be triggered by high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and other preventable diseases, though age, race, gender, and family history can also raise your risk.

If you feel you may be experiencing a mini stroke or a full-blown stroke, call 911 immediately. Stroke symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body, as well as sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, lack of balance or coordination, and sudden severe headache.

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