• Stroke

Should I Worry About a TIA?

Suddenly, you or someone close to you can’t lift an arm or speak clearly. Yet, soon the symptoms pass. What happened? And should you be worried?

The cause might be a TIA, or transient ischemic attack. Also known as a mini-stroke, a TIA causes symptoms similar to a stroke. TIAs happen when a blood clot or artery spasm suddenly blocks an artery briefly. This stops the blood from reaching a part of the brain for a short time.

If you think you are having symptoms of a TIA or stroke, even if they don’t last, get medical help right away.

Think of a TIA as a temporary stroke that will cause no lasting damage. But the effects of a stroke can be serious and permanent. And there’s no way to know in the beginning whether symptoms are from a TIA or a major stroke. If you think you are having symptoms of a TIA or stroke, even if they don’t last, get medical help right away.

Bryan Ludwig, MD, Neurointerventional, Stroke Neurology Chair, Premier Health Neuroscience Institute, talks about TIAs.

What are TIA Symptoms?

Symptoms can come on suddenly and last for a few seconds or a few hours. You may have symptoms only once, or they may come and go over several days. If you notice any of these warning signs, don’t wait to see if they will go away:

• Sudden weakness, numbness, tingling or loss of feeling in your face, arm or leg, especially on one side of your body
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; double vision
• Slurred speech, trouble talking or difficulty understanding others when they speak
• Sudden, unexplained severe headache
• Dizziness or a feeling of spinning
• Loss of balance or falling
• Sudden confusion
• Blackouts

The Link Between TIAs and Strokes

Consider a TIA a warning stroke that gives you time to keep a permanent stroke from happening. In fact, approximately one-third of those experiencing a TIA will have a stroke in the following year, according to the American Stroke Association. That’s one reason why it’s important to recognize symptoms of a TIA and seek immediate treatment, which will reduce the risk of a major stroke. When you recognize TIA symptoms and get to a hospital quickly, you can find out why a TIA occurred and get treatment that keeps a major stroke from occurring.

Source: Bryan Ludwig, MD, Neurointerventional, Stroke Neurology Chair, Premier Health Neuroscience Institute; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health; American Stroke Association; What is a Transient Ischemic Attack, Stay

Bryan R. Ludwig, MD

Clinical Neuroscience Institute

View Profile View Articles