Stroke, emergency care

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA for short) is sometimes called a mini-stroke. It happens when a blood clot temporarily blocks a vessel leading to your brain. But the clot moves away, so your brain doesn't get starved of oxygen for long. This means your brain doesn't get permanantly damaged, and the symptoms go away.

Because the symptoms go away, some people don't take a TIA seriously. But having a TIA is a warning sign that you might have a stroke in the next few days or weeks. In people who have a TIA, 1 in 10 go on to have a stroke in the next week.

Source:
Rothwell, Giles, Chandratheva, et al.
Effect of urgent treatment of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke on early recurrent stroke (EXPRESS study): a prospective population-based sequential comparison.
Lancet. 2007; 370: 1432-1442.

The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke. If you get these symptoms, it's important to get medical help right away. Treat it as a medical emergency.

Research shows that having treatment for a TIA quickly, within a day of having symptoms, cuts your chances of having a full stroke within the next three months from 10 in 100 with normal treatment, to 2 in 100 for people who are treated quickly.

Treatments for a TIA include high-dose aspirin and clot-dissolving drugs.

Sources for the information on this page:

Rothwell, Giles, Chandratheva, et al.Effect of urgent treatment of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke on early recurrent stroke (EXPRESS study): a prospective population-based sequential comparison. Lancet. 2007; 370: 1432-1442.

This information was last updated on Sep 01, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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