A TIA is a temporary disruption of the blood flow to the brain. It is a “warning stroke” that could signal a full stroke is coming soon, and it’s important to get help right away.
Symptoms usually last less than 24 hours and disappear on their own, but it is important to seek medical attention because a TIA is the first step toward having a full-blown stroke. People with a TIA should be seen by a doctor who specialises in preventing strokes, and they will probably have some tests to find out what caused the TIA.
The person will be asked questions about their symptoms and how long they’ve had them. A doctor will check their face for a droopy eye (diplopia), how well they can lift both arms, and whether or not they have trouble understanding speech. They may also ask how fast their heart is beating. They might also wear a monitor for a few days to measure their heart rhythm and check for abnormal beats, such as atrial fibrillation.
They might have a blood test to look for high blood pressure and other risk factors, such as diabetes or high cholesterol. They will probably be offered blood thinners to reduce their chance of having another TIA or a full stroke. They might be advised to stop smoking and to exercise regularly. Some people who have blocked arteries in their necks, especially the carotid artery that everybody can feel pulsing in their neck, might be offered surgery to remove the clot and reduce their risk of having a further TIA or a full stroke.
Some people will have a TIA because of a condition called patent foramen ovale, a hole in the wall that separates the lower two chambers of their heart. If this is the cause of the TIA, doctors might recommend that they have an operation to close the hole and prevent future clots from travelling to their brain.
Because a TIA is a warning that a full stroke might be coming, most doctors will try to find out what caused it and will work to reduce the chance of that happening again. People who have had a TIA are at higher risk of having a stroke than those who haven’t, so they should visit their GP for annual health checks. These can catch symptomless problems such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, and can help stop them from leading to a TIA or a full stroke.
