Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and may order a series of tests including a brain scan. If you've had a TIA, the brain scan may not show any signs of recent brain injury. Your doctor may refer you for other tests to identify why the TIA happened and look for risk factors for stroke.
An MRI scan is most often used. This type of scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create an image of your brain.
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms: You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not.
Yes, you can have a stroke and not know it. A stroke's effects can be undetectable if the stroke is small or if the tissue damaged does not serve a critical function. Evidence of the stroke would show on a CT scan or an MRI of the brain, but it might not produce symptoms.
Usually, a silent stroke is discovered unexpectedly on a brain CT or brain MRI. These imaging tests can easily distinguish past strokes from recent strokes.
Most people who have a mini-stroke feel fine after the event. In fact, many people don't even realize they've had one! Symptoms might include weakness, numbness, tingling, vision changes or difficulty speaking. Most symptoms are temporary and dissipate within minutes but sometimes can last up to 24 hours.
Unfortunately, diagnosing TIA can be difficult, as it depends on detailed history-taking; by definition, patients' symptoms have resolved at the time of assessment, and there is no established biomarker for TIA.
A person's life expectancy after a mini stroke reduces by around 4% in the first year following the attack in comparison to people who have not had one. In the following 9 years, life expectancy reduces by 20%. These statistics come from a 2019 review .
An MRI can sometimes show the site of the TIA, especially if it's done soon after it happens. But this is not the main way that a TIA is diagnosed.
Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
Once your provider has determined the cause of the TIA , the goal of treatment is to correct the issue and prevent a stroke. Depending on the cause of the TIA , your provider may prescribe medication to reduce the tendency for blood to clot or may recommend surgery or a balloon procedure (angioplasty).
The good news is you absolutely can live a full life after a mini-stroke. Here's how. Like strokes, mini-strokes occur when a blockage occurs in a major artery to your brain, disrupting the flow of blood and oxygen. The difference is in a mini-stroke, the disruption lasts only minutes, so there's no permanent damage.
Since TIA s most often occur hours or days before a stroke, seeking medical attention immediately following a possible TIA is essential. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you've had a TIA . Prompt evaluation and identification of potentially treatable conditions may help you prevent a stroke.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or mini strokes occur when blood flow to the brain, spinal cord, or retina is interrupted. Most mini stroke signs last only for a few minutes, with a full recovery in about an hour. In some cases, they can last for up to 24 hours, though such long-lasting symptoms are rare.
Transient ischemic attack and minor stroke are highly predictive of a subsequent disabling stroke within hours or days of the first event. The risk of subsequent stroke after a transient ischemic attack is between 2% and 17% within the first 90 days after the initial event.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a prevalent symptom among stroke survivors. This symptom is an independent risk factor for stroke and may reduce stroke survivors' quality of life, cognitive functioning, and daytime functional performance.
Fatigue affects the majority of people who have a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke). It can have a big effect on your life.
Chronic stress can indirectly cause a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack or mini stroke). For instance, chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, which is a known risk factor for stroke and heart disease. Stress can also cause inflammation in the arteries all over the body.
Do not eat too much of any single food, particularly processed foods and foods high in salt. You should limit the amount of salt you eat to no more than 6g a day because too much salt will increase your blood pressure.
Taking blood-thinning medication is often one of the main ways you can reduce your risk of a stroke if you have had a stroke or TIA, or have a heart condition. By reducing the risk of clots forming, they give you a much greater chance of recovering and staying healthy after a stroke.
If a TIA is suspected, you should be offered aspirin to take straight away. This helps to prevent a stroke. Even if the symptoms disappear while you're waiting for an ambulance to arrive, you still need to be assessed in hospital.