Transient Ischemic Attack

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

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For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a stroke that lasts only a few minutes. It happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly blocked. Symptoms of a TIA are like other stroke symptoms, but do not last as long. They happen suddenly, and include

• Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Difficulty walking
• Dizziness
• Loss of balance or coordination

Most symptoms of a TIA disappear within an hour, although they may last for up to 24 hours. Because you cannot tell if these symptoms are from a TIA or a stroke, you should go to the hospital right away.

TIAs are often a warning sign for future strokes. Taking medicine, such as blood thinners, may reduce your risk of a stroke. Your doctor might also recommend surgery. You can also help lower your risk by having a healthy lifestyle. This includes not smoking, not drinking too much, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. It is also important to control other health problems, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

• TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) (American Stroke Association)
• Transient Ischemic Attack (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• Transient Ischemic Attack (Beyond the Basics) (UpToDate)
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) (National Stroke Association)

Symptoms

• Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Carotid Ultrasound Imaging (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- Head (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Stroke Warning Signs (American Stroke Association)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Carotid Endarterectomy (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
• What Is a Stent? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Treatments and Therapies

• Blood Thinners: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Stroke (Society of Interventional Radiology)

Related Issues

• Healthy Living after Stroke (American Stroke Association)
• Mini-Stroke vs. Regular Stroke: What's the Difference? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Videos and Tutorials

• Transient Ischemic Attack (American Heart Association)

Statistics and Research

• Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics (American Heart Association)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Ischemic Attack, Transient (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Transient Ischaemic Attack Rarely Precedes Stroke in a Cohort with...
• Article: Headache in transient ischemic attacks.
• Article: Blood pressure-lowering treatment for preventing recurrent stroke, major vascular events,...
• Transient Ischemic Attack -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Heart Association
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish
• National Stroke Association

Patient Handouts

• Transient ischemic attack (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish