What is a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)?
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a mini-stroke which only lasts for a few minutes with no permanent damage. It happens when the blood flow to the brain is briefly stopped.
What are the symptoms of Transient Ischemic Attacks?
![Difficulty swallowing](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Difficulty-swallowing.png)
Dysphasia
![Dysarthria](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Dysarthria.png)
Dysarthria
![Visual agnosia](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Visual-agnosia.png)
Changes in vision
![Confusion](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Confusion.png)
Confusion
![Impaired posture](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Impaired-posture.png)
Balance issues
![Tingling](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tingling.png)
Tingling
![Altered level of consciousness](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Altered-level-of-consciousness.png)
Altered consciousness
![Dizziness](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Dizziness.png)
Dizziness
![Headache](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Headache.png)
Severe headache
![Abnormal sense of taste and smell](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Abnormal-sense-of-taste-and-smell.png)
Abnormal sense of taste and smell
![Difficulty swallowing](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Difficulty-swallowing.png)
Weakness or numbness on one part of the body
- Blood clots
- Hypertension
- Atherosclerosis
- Carotid artery disease
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
That can be changed
- High BP
- High Cholesterol
- Cardiovascular disease
- Carotid artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Diabetes
- Excess weight
- Smoking
- Inactivity
- Poor nutrition
- Long term use of birth control pills
Things that can not be controlled
- Age
- Sex
- Prior transient ischemic attack
- Sickle cell disease
- Race
Diagnosis of TIA is not possible on the medical event alone as it is short lived.
- Physical examination and tests
- Carotid ultrasonography
- CT
- MRI
- MRA
- Echocardiography
- Arteriography
- The doctor will recommend correcting the abnormality to prevent future incidents of strokes through medications such as antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulants
- Surgery might be recommended if the blood vessels are too narrow.