Prevention

You can help to prevent TIAs by controlling your risk factors for stroke, especially high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes. If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor's recommendations for modifying your diet and taking your medication. If you smoke, quit. If you are diabetic, monitor your blood sugar level frequently, follow your diet. and take your insulin or oral medication as your doctor has prescribed. It is also wise to exercise regularly and to eat a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables but low in saturated fats and cholesterol.

Treatment

In treating TIAs, the ultimate goal is to prevent a full-fledged stroke. Medications used for this purpose include anticoagulants (anti-clotting medications) and antiplatelet medications such as aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix).

If you have significant narrowing of part of the carotid artery in the neck, surgery called carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting may be done to correct the problem and help prevent future TIAs and stroke.