Mini stroke; TIA; Little stroke

The goal is to prevent a stroke from occurring.

If you have had a TIA within the last 48 hours, you will likely be admitted to the hospital so that doctors can determine the cause and treatment.

Underlying disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and blood disorders, should be treated appropriately.

Blood thinners, such as aspirin, may be prescribed to reduce blood clotting. Others include dipyridamole, clopidogrel, Aggrenox or heparin, Coumadin, or other similar medications. You may be treated for an indefinite time period.

Surgery (carotid endarterectomy) may be appropriate for some people who have clogged neck arteries.

If you smoke, you should stop.

Your health care provider may recommend a low-fat, low-salt diet. Other dietary changes may be recommended.

TIAs do not cause lasting damage to the brain.

However, they are a warning sign that you may have a true stroke some day. Over 10% of people who have a TIA will have a stroke within 3 months. Half of these strokes happen during the 48 hours after a TIA. The stroke may occur that same day or at a later time. Some people have only a single episode, and some have recurrent episodes.

Your chances of a future stroke can be reduced by close follow-up with your health care provider to manage risk factors.

Complications of TIA include:

• Death of brain cells due to too little blood flow to the brain
• Injury that occurs from falls
• Stroke

A TIA is a medical emergency. Call 911 or another local emergency number immediately. Do not ignore symptoms just because they go away. They may be a warning of a future stroke.

Images

Endarterectomy

Transient Ischemic attack (TIA)

Review Date: 05/09/2011
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital (6/16/2010).

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)