TIA stands for transient ischemic attack. People who develop a TIA may experience symptoms over a short period of time due to a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain.
Some people may call TIAs “mini strokes,” but there’s an important difference between TIAs and strokes. A stroke is an actual injury to the brain that develops after the brain does not get the required amount of blood flow over a long period of time. In comparison, a person who has a TIA experiences symptoms briefly, but no injury occurs to the brain because the blood flow is restored before the injury develops.
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If TIAs do not produce permanent injury to the brain, are they important?
TIAs are very important and may serve as a warning sign for a potential stroke in the future. Even though TIAs do not cause permanent injury to the brain, there should never be any interruption of blood flow to the brain. A TIA is considered an emergency and provides the opportunity for your doctor to perform the appropriate testing to identify and treat the cause before a stroke occurs.
What are the risk factors for a TIA? Am I at risk?
Although anyone can develop a stroke or TIA, there are specific risk factors we may control (modifiable) and some we can’t (non-modifiable), which may increase a person’s stroke risk. It’s important to partner with your doctor to identify your own personal risk factors so they may be controlled long-term to reduce the risk of stroke or TIA.
Non-modifiable risk factors for TIA may include the following.
- Age: Stroke risk increases with age, especially after age 55.
- Sex: Men have a slightly increased risk of stroke, but as women get older, their risk of stroke goes up, too.
- History of stroke or TIA: If you have a history of stroke or TIA, the risk of another event is higher.
- Family history: Genetics have a lot of influence on the development of certain diseases. If your family members have a history of stroke, your risk may increase, too.
Modifiable risk factors for TIA may include the following.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure): Hypertension is the No. 1 risk factor for stroke and heart disease. Many people who have hypertension may not know it because the elevated blood pressure does not cause symptoms initially. Poorly controlled blood pressure over months and years beats up the arteries, causing narrowing or blood vessel rupture, producing a stroke. Measuring your blood pressure on a regular basis with lifestyle changes (healthy diet and regular physical activity) is an important step. In addition, some people may require medication prescribed by a doctor for long-term control.
- Diabetes mellitus: Diabetes is a significant risk factor for stroke. Diabetes is a medical condition where there’s inadequate control of glucose (sugar) levels. Having elevated glucose in the blood can cause narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the brain and contribute to the buildup of plaque (hardening of the arteries).
- Elevated cholesterol: Eating a healthy diet with a reduction in the consumption of saturated fats and trans fat may reduce the plaque and degree of narrowing of the arteries supplying the brain.
- Cigarette smoking: Smoking can affect the blood vessels supplying the brain, resulting in narrowing and limiting blood flow. In addition, smoking may increase the development of blood clots, which can lead to stroke and heart attacks.
- Heart disease: Some heart conditions may increase the risk of stroke, including certain irregularities of the heart rhythm and structural defects.
- Obesity: Elevated weight, particularly excess abdominal fat, may increase the risk of stroke and heart disease.
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What can I do to decrease my risk of stroke and TIA?
We can’t change our non-modifiable stroke risk factors like age or family history, but we can control our modifiable risk factors. Prevention is the key. It is important to partner with your doctor to identify your own stroke risk factors and create a personal action plan to achieve long-term control. Strokes are not inevitable. Several studies have shown strokes can be prevented with good long-term control of risk factors.
How will I know if I have experienced a TIA?
Since symptoms of a TIA occur suddenly because the brain isn’t getting enough blood flow, the signs develop without warning, and a person may seem like they’re having a stroke. The acronym BE FAST can be used to remember the symptoms of a stroke or TIA.
BE FAST stands for the following.
B is for BALANCE. Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
E is for EYES. Sudden blurred, double vision or loss of vision.
F is for FACE. Sudden face drooping or numbness.
A is for ARM. Sudden weakness or numbness of the arm or legs on one side of the body.
S is for SPEECH. Sudden slurred speech, inability to speak or difficulty to understand.
T is for TIME. Call 911 immediately if you think you’re having a stroke or TIA.
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What should I do if I think I had a TIA?
Since TIAs are warning signs for a possible future stroke, they provide the opportunity to identify and treat the cause before the stroke occurs. Depending on the symptoms and past medical history, a series of tests may be performed if you think you had a TIA, including looking for narrowed arteries supplying the brain, heart problems, blood clotting issues, persistently elevated blood pressure and/or blood glucose (sugar) issues.
Even though the symptoms typically resolve, a TIA is considered an emergency because it may signal a future stroke. Approximately 1 in 3 people who experience a TIA will eventually have a stroke, with half occurring within a year of the TIA. A person who has a TIA needs to seek an urgent evaluation at the closest emergency room.
