Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

TIA

• TIA and Stroke symptoms are the same. Many people who have a TIA do not seek treatment because the symptoms subside quickly.
•  The majority of TIAs resolve within 60 minutes, and most resolve within 30 minutes.
• Up to 40% of all people who experience a TIA will go on to have a stroke.
• 10 percent to 15 percent of patients with TIA have a stroke within three months 50% of all strokes occur within the first two days after a TIA
• The annual incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) is about 200,000 to 500,000, with the population prevalence about 2.3 percent or about 5 million Americans.

TIA’s are a serious warning sign and should not be ignored. Call 9-1-1 if you experience any one of the following symptoms: 

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe and unusual headache

A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is often described as a mini-stroke. Unlike a stroke however, the symptoms can disappear within a few minutes. A TIA happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or reduced, often by a blood clot. After a short time, blood flows again and the symptoms go away. With a stroke, the blood flow stays blocked, and the brain has permanent damage.

A TIA is a warning: It means you are likely to have a stroke in the future. If you think you are having a TIA, call 911. Early treatment can help prevent a stroke. If you think you have had a TIA but your symptoms have gone away, you still need to call your doctor right away.