Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or mini strokes don’t usually cause permanent brain damage, but they should be considered a warning sign of serious stroke risk, says the National Stroke Association.
TIAs occur when there’s a temporary loss of blood flow to part of the brain, usually lasting less than 24 hours. Symptoms may mimic those of a full ischemic stroke (the kind caused by a blood clot), including dizziness, headache, vision and speech problems and paralysis or numbness in a limb.
Most TIAs are caused by one of three issues:
- Low blood flow through a narrow part of an artery carrying blood into the brain, such as at the base of the carotid artery.
- A blockage caused when a small piece of a blood clot in another part of the body flows through the blood vessels to the brain.
- Narrowing of a smaller blood vessel in the brain, usually caused by plaque that temporarily blocks or restricts blood flow.
TIAs are called mini strokes, but they can lead to real damage. About 40 percent of people who have a TIA go on to have a real stroke, according to the National Stroke Association. About half of those real strokes that follow TIAs occur within a few days of the mini stroke.
If you’ve had ““ or suspect you’ve had ““ a mini stroke, talk to your doctor about how to prevent another. Options for reducing the risk of TIA are the same as those for reducing stroke, including blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Call 911 immediately at the first sign of a stroke ““ facial paralysis, paralysis or numbness in an arm or leg, difficulty speaking or understanding speech. Clot-busting medications can help prevent and limit the brain damage caused by stroke, but they have to be administered quickly.
