A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an ischemic stroke in which the blood flow is restored quickly and the symptoms typically disappear within 1 to 2 hours. In other words, it’s a mini-stroke that you recover from quickly. The longer the symptoms last, the more likely that there will be permanent brain tissue injury.
TIAs are more common among older people, and often go undiagnosed if the symptoms are not recognized. A TIA precedes approximately 15% to 30% of strokes. Therefore, recognition of TIA symptoms is important because preventative treatment may help to reduce the chance of an impending stroke.
The risk of stroke is highest within the first 3 months following a TIA, especially within the first few days. Within the first month, the average risk of stroke after a TIA ranges from 1 in 20 to 1 in 10. TIAs and strokes generally occur in people with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or coronary artery disease. In fact, people who have suffered TIAs are even more likely to die of heart attack than of stroke.
A TIA is caused by the same factors that cause ischemic stroke. Ischemia is the medical term for a reduction of blood and oxygen to the cells.
Ischemic stroke occurs when the arteries feeding the brain become blocked. This may result from narrowing (stenosis) of the arteries, which creates areas of turbulence that can lead to blood clot (thrombus) formation. Such a clot may occur in a brain-feeding artery, or it may occur elsewhere in the body, travel up to the brain, and lodge in a narrowed section of a brain artery.
A free-floating particle in the blood is called an embolus, and a free-drifting clot is called a thromboembolism. Local and travelling blood clots are the leading causes of stroke and TIA. The most common sources of brain emboli that cause stroke are the carotid arteries in the neck and the heart.
The risk factors for TIA are exactly the same as those for stroke:
There are other risk factors that aren’t preventable, such as aging, family history, gender, and having had a previous stroke.
The first thing to do after a recent TIA is to be assessed by a physician to confirm the diagnosis, and to begin treatments to lower the risk of having a stroke. Basically, this involves use of antiplatelet medications to minimize the chance of further clot formation. Acetylsalicylic acid* (ASA), ticlopidine, clopidogrel, and a combination of ASA and dipyridamole are medications that are commonly used to "thin" the blood, break up existing blood clots, and inhibit blood clot formation.
In special circumstances, an anticoagulant medication may be prescribed for stroke prevention. Other medications such as blood pressure-lowering agents and cholesterol-lowering agents may be considered for long-term stroke risk reduction.
Surgery for blockages in the carotid artery may be recommended for stroke prevention if there is severe (more than 70%) blockage. If surgery is not possible, a catheter with a balloon at its tip may be inserted to widen the artery. In this case, doctors insert a stent (a tube made of wire mesh) into the artery to keep the artery open.
It’s important to heed the warning given by a TIA, especially when many of the risk factors for stroke can be reduced. Stop smoking, reduce excess weight, and keep alcohol intake to a minimum. It is very important to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Transient-Ischemic-Attack
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