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.
Diagnostic testing consists of either a computed tomogram (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain and carotid arteries to determine the possible cause of the TIA.
There is no blood test that can diagnose a stroke. However, in the hospital, your doctor or nurse may do a series of blood tests to learn the cause of your stroke symptoms: Complete blood count (CBC).
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.
Since the symptoms of TIA and stroke are the same, it's important to seek medical attention. You may have tests such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or a computerized tomography (CT) scan. The tests can help determine what caused the TIA .
A person experiencing a TIA might feel sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, have slurred speech, have trouble seeing or talking, and feel confused. The person may experience a combination of these symptoms at the same time.
The DWI-MRI provides not only the evidence to distinguish between TIA and acute ischemic stroke, furthermore it predicts TIA patients who are at higher risk of disabling stroke, which can be prevented by an immediate evaluation and treatment of TIA.
Aspirin and other antiplatelet medicines
You'll probably be given low-dose aspirin straight after a suspected TIA. Aspirin works as an antiplatelet medicine. Platelets are blood cells that help blood to clot. Antiplatelet medicines work by reducing the ability of platelets to stick together and form blood clots.
But, TIAs are a warning sign that you may have a true stroke in the coming days or months. Some 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.
You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not.
These brief episodes are transient ischemic attacks (TIA), sometimes called “mini-strokes.” They still should be taken seriously, because they tend to be signs of underlying serious conditions that can lead to a full stroke, even possibly in the few days following a TIA event if not evaluated and treated for a TIA.
You do not need to be admitted to hospital because of a TIA, but this is often done because of the absence of an alternative. Many TIA clinics now offer a “one-stop” service for which the patient is assessed, investigated (or investigated before the appointment), and given results at the same session.
You must not drive for at least one month after any TIA and then must discuss with your doctor before resuming driving. If you have had more than one TIA then you must not drive for three months and you must notify the DVLA.
Treatments include medications to lower pressure in the brain, control high blood pressure, and improve blood flow. In some cases, surgery is indicated. New treatments for hemorrhagic stroke are becoming available and should improve the range of possible treatments.
The diagnosis of TIA remains largely clinical and is based on taking an accurate history.
Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred and most sensitive modality after transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. It should include diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and should be completed within 24 hours of symptom onset1,2; its use is 3-fold.
Signs of stroke can show up on an MRI for years after the initial event. If the symptoms were mild, a person may not know they had a stroke until long afterward.
This can cause sudden symptoms like those of a stroke. However, a TIA does not last as long as a stroke. The effects only last for a few minutes or hours and fully resolve within 24 hours.
Fatigue can happen after any type of stroke, and you can have severe fatigue after a relatively mild stroke or a TIA. Even if you have made a full physical recovery, or your stroke was some time ago, fatigue can still be a problem.
It has been found in a study that stress apparently raises the risk of a Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) by 59%. A TIA is a mini-stroke caused by a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain.
Most people, and even many doctors, don't realize that the risk of a second stroke is as high as 12.8 percent in the first week after a TIA (transient ischemic attack). If you do not change certain lifestyle factors, the risk of a second stroke within the next five years can be as high as 30 percent.