Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Is There Such a Thing as a Mini-stroke?

A stroke is a terrible thing to have happen to anyone, but is there such a thing as a mini-stroke? And if so, what is it? Well, there is a condition that mimics the symptoms of a stroke, only without the devastating effects. This is known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA. People are advised to consider a TIA as a warning sign that something bigger might be on the horizon. A stroke isn't always preceded by a TIA, but quite a few people who suffer from TIAs also have full strokes later on down the line. Therefore, the attack should never be ignored. There's no exact way to predict when a stroke might occur after a TIA, since people with TIAs have gone weeks or years without a stroke, and sometimes might not have a full blown stroke at all.

The cause of a TIA is relatively simple, but hard to predict. When a blood clot clogs up an artery for a short time, it deprives the brain of needed blood and oxygen. This causes the symptoms of weakness, numb feeling in arms or legs, garbled speech, vision problems, confused state and a migraine like headache. These symptoms come on very rapidly and don't generally last for more than a few minutes, but can persist for hours. Unlike a full stroke, the TIAs don't usually cause any brain damage. Even though some of the TIA symptoms might be similar to other conditions, a person should always see their doctor right away. Migraines could be confused for a TIA due to the sudden onset of headache, occasional confusion or even trouble with vision.

Although doctors understand the basics of what causes TIAs, they haven't yet been able to find an effective treatment or prevention. The only real way to treat TIAs is by preventive therapy like prescribing anticoagulants or an aspirin a day to thin the blood, but this may not be safe for all people, especially those with bleeding or stomach problems. A medical physical will sometimes be able to arrive at a safe course of treatment, but there are those times when a physical will show nothing unusual. Because of the unpredictable nature of TIAs and strokes, researchers are working at trying to find better predictors and cures that will enable patients to be better prepared or better able to recover. Until then, people, especially the elderly, are advised to read about the symptoms so that they, and their families and friends, are able to recognize the symptoms of TIA or stroke so that help can be received as quickly as possible.