It often occurs in the hours or days before an explosive stroke and is medically known as a stroke precursor. The medical name for a mini-stroke is transient ischemic attack or lacunar cerebral infarction, which occurs as a result of blockage of small blood vessels and occurs rapidly. Minor strokes are usually preceded by signs and symptoms, including sudden slurred speech, blurred speech, partial body paralysis, weakness in the limbs, loss of balance, dimming of the old eyes, problems with vision, and even sudden memory loss and mental disturbance, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. After a mini-stroke, most patients will have a major stroke within a week or two.