Scans also help them decide upon a treatment plan. Additionally, bleeding events in the brain can sometimes mimic TIA and require a completely different treatment. When it comes to a TIA, seeking care at an emergency room is better than making an appointment with a primary care doctor, Streib said, because it can take much longer in the outpatient setting to order tests and interpret results. For some, that might be too late to prevent a subsequent stroke. If a TIA has been confirmed on evaluation and scans, many TIA patients can be discharged home for urgent clinic follow-up within 48 to 96 hours.
We review all the brain and blood vessel scans, optimize medications that thin the blood, reduce cholesterol, control blood pressure, and order all necessary outpatient testing before any TIA patient is cleared to leave. Patients who go home are seen in clinic within the next 48 to 96 hours to follow-up on their test results and further refine their medications.
On the other hand, patients who are at high risk for a stroke stay in the hospital for additional medical or surgical treatment, such as removal of cholesterol-related blockages in the neck, a surgery known as carotid endarterectomy. After a patient has received immediate medical attention following a TIA, Streib recommends working with a specialist to establish a long-term health plan to reduce the ongoing risk of a stroke — especially if the cause of the TIA remains unknown.
Stroke specialists may use innovative treatment options and long-term testing methods. Some of these risk factors are not readily apparent and may require diagnostic testing that takes months or longer. A stroke specialist is in the best position to identify the cause and help a patient take action to prevent a stroke.
For many people, a TIA is a warning sign that a person is at higher risk of a major stroke. Health and Wellness. If you have high blood cholesterol statins might be prescribed. These prevent cholesterol production which reduces the chance of blood clots forming.
Stopping smoking and eating a healthy balanced diet are two things you can do to help improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If you have a partial blockage in your carotid arteries you might benefit from surgery to clear it.
This operation is called a carotid endarterectomy. Your doctors will discuss your suitability for this procedure with you. Healthy lifestyle changes can help to reduce your risk of having a TIA or stroke in the long term:. Please tell us what you think of our information so we can keep improving it, and click the link below to fill in our feedback form. Fill in our feedback form. Should you wish to view the references for this publication, please contact luke. You can download this fact sheet to view offline or print by clicking the link below.
Download What is a TIA? What are the symptoms of a TIA? The main symptoms of TIA are the same as those of stroke: physical problems in one side of the body numbness, weakness drooping of one side of the face speech problems slurred speech, muddled words visual problems blurred vision, loss of vision dizziness The onset of TIA symptoms is usually sudden.
What causes TIAs? Tests and investigations The key test for TIA is a brain scan. What are the treatments? How can I reduce my risk of having a TIA or stroke? Healthy lifestyle changes can help to reduce your risk of having a TIA or stroke in the long term: stop smoking cut down on how much alcohol you drink eat a healthy diet cut down on salt and fatty foods exercise regularly have your blood pressure checked Useful contacts Stroke Association Stroke Information Service Life After Stroke Centre, Church Lane Bromsgrove Worcestershire B61 8RA Helpline: info stroke.
NHS Choices www. Download our fact sheet You can download this fact sheet to view offline or print by clicking the link below.
Back to Health A to Z. A transient ischaemic attack TIA or "mini stroke" is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain. This can cause sudden symptoms similar to a stroke , such as speech and visual disturbance, and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs.
But a TIA does not last as long as a stroke. The effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours. It's important to call immediately and ask for an ambulance if you or someone else has symptoms of a TIA or stroke. If a TIA is suspected, you should be offered aspirin to take straight away.
This helps to prevent a stroke. Even if the symptoms disappear while you're waiting for an ambulance to arrive, you still need to be assessed in hospital.
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