What is a TIA Stroke?
The TIA stroke, or transient (TRANS-yent) ischemic (iss-KEY-mik) attack, is what many doctors refer to as a “mini-stroke” because your body experiences the same symptoms encountered in a regular stroke, but the TIA stroke is temporary (the cut-off mark is 24 hours) and causes no lasting damage.
The TIA stroke is a very serious condition and should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. While it is unlikely that a TIA stroke will progress into a major stroke, over a third of TIA stroke patients will have a regular stroke later in life.
TIA Stroke
A TIA stroke does not provide any information about the time a major stroke will occur, on that the chances are greatly increased. A regular stroke can happen days, weeks or even over a year after a TIA stroke, which is why treatment and medication must begin immediately.
While 24 hours is the clinical diagnosis time, many doctors find this unrealistic and inaccurate. The TIA stroke occurs during a temporary disruption in blood flow to part of the brain; symptoms are rapid relatively short lived, and in actuality a TIA stroke typically lasts less than 5 minutes.
Symptoms of the TIA stroke are the same as those of regular stroke, the only difference being the duration and damage caused by the condition. However, as mentioned, it is extremely unadvisable to ignore these symptoms, even though no permanent damage occurs. Call 911, and seek medical attention immediately! Fast and early treatment can greatly reduce the chances of a major, and potentially fatal, stroke from occurring.
This includes several medications, possible surgery to widen blood flow in your neck, and lifestyle changes to help control your blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol levels. While it is an obvious relief that the TIA stroke causes no lasting damage, it is also an incredibly important warning sign, so don’t ignore it.
