In this post: A spotlight on Hailey Bieber’s “mini”stroke (TIA or transient ischemic attack) and PFO Closure.
What is this condition and what caused her stroke?
In her video, “telling my story” Hailey shares: What were her stroke warning signs, acting FAST, her stroke score, testing and diagnosis (bubble echo study, and trans cranial doppler), risk factors (PFO, birth control meds and migraine history, COVID, flying and blood clots). Also, life after PFO closure and giving thanks.
The Story
On March 10, 25 year old Hailey Bieber, American model and wife of singer Justin Bieber was hospitalized with stroke-like symptoms, and recently has opened up to share the “scariest moment of her life”.
Once at the hospital, she said doctors determined that she suffered a small blood clot to her brain, “which they labeled and categorized as a TIA.”
A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is often called a mini-stroke and “a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain,” according to the American Stroke Association.
Common Stroke Sense
At this moment of a stroke, we all have this in common, a stroke is scary. Stroke doesn’t discriminate, if you are young or old, 25 or 75- it’s equally scary. If you are a celebrity or a common everyday citizen, a stroke shows no compassion- it is scary. After the initial scare, and if it doesn’t take your life1 -stroke after effects are often not transient, they can be lasting and are often cruel and devastating to the brain and body for a lifetime.
CDC Data
1Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Every 3.5 minutes, someone dies of stroke.
Stroke Awareness
This is why in May each year we dedicate the month to stroke awareness, because early detection and the ability to know stroke symptoms and BE FAST to respond is critical to surviving a stroke. With FAST detection and treatment response times can literally save a brain and a life. Or, if the brain is spared and a TIA (or warning sign for the brain) is diagnosed like in Hailey’s story, this can prompt interventions which may reduce the risks of a second brain attack by taking the best advice of your stroke treatment team.
Know Stroke
Stroke symptoms can be summed in an acronym: BE FAST
- Balance: Watch out for a sudden loss of balance or coordination.
- Eyes: Note any vision loss in one or both eyes, or double vision.
- Face: Watch for drooping on one side of the face.
- Arms: Note any sudden weakness in an arm or leg.
- Speech: Note any slurred speech or difficulty speaking or understanding words
- Time: Call 911 quickly if someone is experiencing any of these symptoms.
Thank you Hailey for Sharing Your Story
While this has been certainly a challenging time and in her own words the “scariest moment of her life”, by Hailey Bieber opening up and sharing her stroke story on her social platforms she has done a great public service for spreading stroke awareness, especially for young people. Her followers have tuned in by the millions over this past month (over 10 million and counting to date to her post on her stroke story) as she opened up about her medical condition in the detailed YouTube and Instagram videos. In addition, every major news channel and talk show picked up her story as well (see the related press links at the end of this post).
“Hailey elaborated on the entire incident so well, including the complicated process of PFO detection, testing and closure and shared empathy for those who have also been scared by stroke and the uncertainty of life following a brain attack.”
David Dansereau,MSPT | Know-Stroke.org
Grateful
This video is excellent, it should be played and shared to audiences young and old. Hopefully the influence Hailey has on social media to spread stroke awareness will extend beyond this single post. When young bright minds are listening and learning about stroke warning signs it is always a great way to share and perhaps save a life!
I am grateful for Hailey sharing her story. For the most part, the replies of gratitude are shared by those on social, yet a few post comments do site cases where they too had similar health experiences with migraine, PFO and stroke yet they were dismissed and/or were not offered the same treatment options as Hailey. This has been a long journey for many in this patient community trying to find answers in the grey areas that remain on the best treatment pathways for PFO/Migraine/Stroke. If you’ve read any of my other posts over the years on this topic, you know I certainly “get it”.
My bottom line: If you see related posts linked below in the category of “PFO and Stroke” from all the years I’ve been posting in this blog it doesn’t even come close to the impact this one share Hailey made to tell her PFO and stroke story. For this I am certainly grateful.
Post by: David Dansereau,MSPT
Listen for more on this post topic on the next Know Stroke Podcast !
Other Related Press Links:
https://www.today.com/health/health/can-birth-control-pills-lead-stroke-rcna26435
https://www.vogue.com/article/hailey-bieber-opens-up-about-her-mini-stroke
https://www.tmz.com/2022/04/27/hailey-bieber-mini-stroke-heart-procedure/
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/14/1086345393/strokes-young-people-hailey-bieber
Referenced Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052
Know-Stroke.org Recovery Resources from a Physical Therapist and Stroke Survivor 