A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary event that has similarities to a stroke. It's a serious warning sign of future stroke risk that needs immediate attention.
What is a transient ischemic attack?
A transient ischemic attack is a type of stroke. It is a temporary but serious condition that puts you at an increased risk for a major stroke, which can result in life-changing and permanent consequences.
A TIA happens when the brain doesn’t get enough blood for a short period. The blood flow then restores itself, so symptoms also tend to go away quickly or come and go over a short period of time.
However, if you’ve had a TIA, you are at greater risk for a major stroke. According to the American Stroke Association, nearly 1 in 5 people who have a suspected TIA will have a stroke within 90 days. And 2 in 5 people who have a suspected TIA, when scanned, will learn that they actually had a stroke instead of a TIA. That’s why any signs of a TIA should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
AHN Stroke Centers
AHN Stroke Centers provide a comprehensive and coordinated stroke care across multiple locations in western Pennsylvania. Our experienced neurologists and neurosurgeons diagnose and treat a TIA with evidence-based solutions to provide the care you need, when you need it. We work with you to help you recover and prevent future strokes.
Why choose AHN for your transient ischemic attack?
AHN has a network of fully licensed testing facilities that are conveniently located at numerous community sites throughout western Pennsylvania. AHN Stroke Centers are certified by the Joint Commission, which is an independent nonprofit that recognizes excellence in care. This means you can have access to comprehensive treatment, that can lead to faster diagnosis.
Treatment for a TIA focuses on preventing a stroke from occurring. We consider multiple factors before deciding on a treatment plan that’s appropriate for you. Learn more about AHN’s options for cerebrovascular and stroke care.
Quick guide to transient ischemic attack
Transient ischemic attack symptoms and signs
Transient ischemic attack screening and diagnosis
Transient ischemic attack treatment
Transient ischemic attack symptoms and signs
In both a TIA and a stroke, a blood vessel blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching your brain. Unlike a major stroke, however, a TIA only blocks blood flow for a short time.
Someone with a TIA may experience sudden but short-lived symptoms that often include:
- Loss of (or abnormal) sensations in an arm, leg, or one side of the body
- Weakness or paralysis of arm, leg or on one side of the body
- Partial loss of vision or hearing or double vision
- Slurred speech or problems thinking of or saying the right word
- Imbalance, falling, dizziness or fainting
Causes and risk factors
A TIA is something that should be taken seriously. The causes and risk factors are nearly identical to a ischemic stroke, because a TIA is an ischemic event — just a temporary one. It is important to understand the causes and risk factors that can contribute to this medical event. They can range from medical conditions to lifestyle and other risk factors.
Medical conditions
There are certain medical conditions that can contribute to an increased risk of a TIA. These include:
- High blood pressure (hypertension): It damages blood vessels over time, making them prone to atherosclerosis and reducing elasticity.
- High cholesterol: Contributes to the formation of a buildup of plaque and reduced flexibility, which is buildup of sticky fat and cholesterol in the arteries that can reduce the blood flow.
- Diabetes: High blood sugar damages blood vessels and promotes plaque buildup.
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib): Significantly increases the risk of stroke and TIA due to clot formation in the heart.
- Carotid artery disease: Pre-existing narrowing of the carotid arteries due to plaque.
- Previous TIA or stroke: Having had one TIA or stroke significantly increases the risk of major stroke. A TIA is a strong warning sign of a more serious future event.
Lifestyle
Changing these daily habits can help lower your risk:
- Smoking: Damages blood vessel walls, thickens blood, increases blood pressure, and reduces oxygen delivery.
- Obesity: Contributes to high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
- Lack of physical activity: Increases the risk of obesity and related conditions that lead to chronic disease.
- Unhealthy diet: Diets high in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: This can raise blood pressure and contribute to AFib.
- Illicit drug use: Especially cocaine and amphetamines, which can cause sudden spikes in blood pressure and spasms of the arteries.
Other risk factors
These are other risk factors that can also influence your risk many of which are beyond control, so it’s important to be aware of them and speak with your doctor. These include:
- Age: The risk of TIA (and stroke) increases significantly with age.
- Family history: A close relative (parent, sibling) who had a TIA or stroke at an early age increases your risk.
- Race/ethnicity: Certain groups, such as African Americans, have a higher risk, often due to higher prevalence of underlying conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
- Sex: Those assigned female at birth generally have a slightly higher risk of stroke over their lives, and this can be influenced by pregnancy, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, oral contraceptive use, and hormone replacement therapy.
It's vital to recognize that a TIA is a medical emergency. Even though symptoms are temporary, it signals a serious underlying problem and is a strong predictor of a future full-blown stroke. Prompt medical evaluation after a TIA is crucial for identifying the cause and implementing preventive strategies.
Transient ischemic attack screening and diagnosis
Your neurologist or healthcare provider will conduct a thorough overview for the screening and diagnosis to understand the extent or presence of TIA. When discussing TIA, medical professionals focus on:
- Risk assessment: Immediately after a TIA, the focus is on assessing the patient's risk of having a full-blown stroke in the short term (e.g., using scales like the ABCD2 score).
- Investigation of underlying cause: Identifying what caused the TIA (e.g., carotid artery narrowing, heart rhythm issues, like AFib, patent foramen ovale (PFO), or small vessel disease) to implement preventive treatments.
- Prevention of future stroke: Since the TIA is a strong indication of a future stroke, prevention is key. Management includes medications, lifestyle changes, and sometimes procedures like carotid surgery.
Depending on your symptoms, doctors may use:
- Advanced imaging: Such as CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain to look for evidence of narrowed or blocked arteries and potential stroke.
- Echocardiography: Imaging of the heart that can identify causes of the TIA.
- Heart monitoring: Which looks for heart rhythm disturbances that can cause TIA, such as atrial fibrillation.
- EKG (electrocardiography): Which checks heart rhythm through electrodes placed on the skin.
- Laboratory tests: Such as blood glucose testing, which may help physicians rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Advanced neurological care is changing lives.
Carleton Weber was fainting, and he needed answers. AHN’s general neurologist Dr. Mihaela Nowak and the team at AHN Jefferson Hospital determined a tailored care plan that changed his life.
Treating a transient ischemic attack
Treatments for a transient ischemic attack may include:
- Lifestyle changes: Certain risk factors can increase the chance of TIA, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes. Quitting smoking, getting more exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, and reducing or stopping alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of TIA.
- Medication: Depending on your risk of experiencing a major stroke, your physician may recommend a blood-thinning and blood pressure medications.
- Endarterectomy: This procedure can clean up the plaque in the carotid artery to increase blood flow to your brain.
- Surgery: If the TIA was caused by the carotid arteries in your neck becoming too narrow, you may need a surgical procedure to widen them. Endovascular surgery options can include:
- Carotid artery stenting: This surgery opens up the arteries, preventing blood clots that can block blood flow to your brain. The neurosurgeons and neurointerventionalists at AHN use the latest treatment techniques to effectively treat TIA and stroke.
- Endovascular thrombectomy: A procedure to remove the blood clot. It opens up the artery, restoring blood flow to your brain.
- Angioplasty: This involves a catheter with a balloon attachment at its tip. Inflating the balloon can widen narrowed arteries.
Transient ischemic attack FAQs
Being aware of what a transient ischemic attack (TIA) can feel like and how they are caused is an important component of being aware of the risks. To help provide a starting point, we provide answers to patients’ most frequently asked questions. Use these to help guide your future conversations.
What is a TIA or mini stroke?
A TIA occurs when the blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked. Essentially, something briefly stops oxygen and nutrients from reaching brain cells, but the blockage clears before permanent damage occurs. Symptoms can include weakness or numbness in an arm, leg, or one side of the body; vision or hearing difficulties; slurred speech; trouble thinking or saying words; and falling, dizziness, or fainting. These symptoms are quick and resolve on their own. It is still critical to seek medical attention after an experiencing these symptoms, even if they go away. Sometimes, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is called a mini stroke. It is not a term that we use medically, but it indicates the temporary nature of a TIA.
What is the difference between TIA and stroke?
In TIA there is no permanent damage to the brain, but in stroke there is permanent damage which is seen on imaging.
Contact us
To schedule an appointment or learn about AHN cerebrovascular (stroke) care, call 412-359-8850 in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas or 814-452-7575 in Erie.