Ben Howard released his fifth album Is it? on Friday, which was written and recorded after he suffered two transient ischaemic attacks, known as mini strokes.
The singer-songwriter said he struggled with his memory and felt tired during the process, worrying he may never recover his abilities.
He told the Guardian: “It was an overload of information, like the whole world was pouring in at once. I felt really hypersensitive to everything: the light, and the sound of the trees, and the leaves, and the wind … I was still compos mentis, but I didn’t have the words to explain it. It was over in an hour. And then, a month later, it happened again.”
Several songs on It Is? reflect the experience and the after-effects of the event which can be fatal in some cases.
Howard said the experience “fed into the writing… lyrically, it was hard to avoid… the songs came, and when they did, it was clear that this experience was preoccupying me constantly”.
He says the initially “terrifying” experience may not have changed him although he is enjoying the smaller things in life more.
What is a mini stroke?
A transient ischaemic attack is sometimes known as a mini stroke and is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain - according to the NHS.
The resulting lack of oxygen to the brain can then lead to symptoms such as speech and visual disturbance and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs.
For Howard, the experience lasted around one hour, which is normal, and in most cases, they can take a few minutes to several hours but will be resolved within 24 hours.
However, if somebody is showing symptoms of a transient ischaemic attack it is important to call 999 right away as the signs are the same as those of a stroke.
It can occasionally be fatal but is almost always not. A stroke is more serious.
What causes a transient ischaemic attack?
The NHS says that an attack is caused when one of the blood vessels that supply your brain with oxygen-rich blood becomes blocked.
The NHS website says: “This blockage is usually caused by a blood clot that's formed elsewhere in your body and travelled to the blood vessels supplying the brain, although it can also be caused by pieces of fatty material or air bubbles.”
An attack can happen to anyone but healthy practices, such as a healthy diet and not smoking, can help prevent it.
Having one attack could suggest that it might happen again, as was the case for Howard.
Treatment will depend on your individual circumstances, such as your age and medical history, the NHS has said.
“You're likely to be given advice about lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your stroke risk, and be offered medicine to treat the cause of the [attack].”
Occasionally surgery is needed to unblock carotid arteries.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is also when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and requires urgent treatment. It is more serious than a transient ischaemic attack
If the supply of blood to the brain is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die and this can cause brain injury, disability and possibly death.
For that reason, urgent medical treatment should be sought.
The NHS says signs include impairment to the face and arms are signs of a stroke as is slurred speech.
