Like a stroke, a TIA occurs when a blockage in a blood vessel stops the flow of blood to part of the brain. Unlike a stroke, TIA symptoms do not persist and resolve within 24 hours — and often much faster.
However, it does involve many of the same signs and symptoms as a stroke. A person experiencing a TIA might feel sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, have slurred speech, have trouble seeing or talking, and feel confused.
The person may experience a combination of these symptoms at the same time. At the time symptoms occur, a TIA and a stroke are difficult to tell apart. In both cases, it is critical that the victim receives rapid medical attention. The symptoms may appear harmless at first, but they may not resolve. In fact, they can worsen. For a stroke, quick medical care can minimize brain damage and reduce the risk of lasting impairments. Usually, the blockage is a blood clot. The brain depends on a supply of blood for the oxygen and nutrients it requires to function properly.
When the blood supply is disrupted, brain cells are starved of oxygen and nutrients. This can cause damage to the brain tissue. With TIAs, the clot dissolves and the blood supply resumes before any permanent damage is caused. TIAs are linked to stroke and are sometimes referred to as mini strokes. TIAs are a warning sign that you are at risk of a stroke and should not be ignored.
TIAs can affect people of any age but are more common in older people. You might be interested in reading our Stroke fact sheet for further information. Each person is affected differently by TIA and individual symptoms depend on which parts of the brain are affected and for what specific functions these parts of the brain are responsible.
A TIA is temporary and people make a full recovery within a short period of time. The length of TIAs differs for individuals but symptoms do not last more than 24 hours. Most TIAs happen as a result of the thickening or narrowing of arteries that carry blood to the brain. Our arteries tend to harden, narrow and weaken as we get older however there are some groups of people who are at an increased risk.
These include people with high blood pressure, people with high cholesterol, people with heart disease or diabetes or a family history of heart disease or diabetes , people who smoke, people with a high alcohol intake and people who do not exercise regularly.
TIAs are caused by blockages usually blood clots in one of the arteries supplying the brain. McDermott: TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a specific medical term. A mini stroke can mean a few things, but for the most part, when doctors refer to mini strokes, they are referring to TIAs. However, some people use the phrase for a stroke that a person recovers from quickly. While a stroke often leads to permanent disability, side effects related to a TIA or mini stroke are temporary with no lasting disability.
Symptoms of a TIA and stroke can be identified by remembering F. The face drooping, an arm going numb or speech that is slurred are all signs of a TIA or stroke, and timely treatment is critical.
McDermott: No matter how long your symptoms last, you should seek medical attention immediately. Narrowed arteries are usually caused by plaque — a buildup of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances. Symptoms of a TIA come on suddenly. You may feel perfectly fine one minute and then suddenly develop difficulty speaking or moving one side of your body.
Sometimes the symptoms will come and go several times in a short period of time. Acting fast is key — if a stroke is going to happen after a TIA, it usually happens very soon — often within hours or days of the initial TIA symptoms. Effective treatments to prevent a stroke from occurring are available, but have to be started right away.
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