Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
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| Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) |
What is a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)?
A Transient Ischemic
Attack (TIA), also known as a ministroke, is a brief interruption of blood
flow to a part of the brain, accompanied by temporary neurological dysfunction,
without causing acute infarction (long-term damage).
The interruption of
blood flow leads to a lack of oxygen in the brain, resulting in symptoms
resembling those of a tia stroke, such as visual disturbances, speech difficulties,
loss of sensation or weakness, and numbness in part of the face, hands, or
feet.
Minor stroke last for a short
period compared to a ministroke, with effects ranging from several minutes to a few
hours. However, the symptoms completely disappear within 24 hours, and the
patient does not experience any chronic disabilities thereafter.
Although TIAs occur and resolve quickly without leaving any lasting damage, they serve as a warning sign of a potential stroke in the near future. The annual risk of a ministroke following a TIA is around 3-4%, increasing to 11% within the first 7 days after experiencing a TIA.
Transient
Ischemic Attack
Partial or complete
occlusion of small blood vessels in the brain due to atherosclerosis or blood
clots - the most common cause - leads to the interruption of blood supply
carrying essential nutrients and oxygen to sustain the neural cells in the
brain. This temporary halt in blood flow disrupts the function of these cells
partially but does not result in their death.
The resulting symptoms
of this event in the brain vary among patients and depend on the affected
region and its function.
Possible causes leading to transient ischemic attacks
include:
- Atherosclerosis in the walls of major arteries responsible
for blood supply to the brain, such as the carotid artery, vertebral artery,
and intracranial arteries.
- Embolism reaching the brain due to conditions such as
valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, ventricular thrombosis, and
arterial embolism.
- Carotid artery dissection.
- Arteritis, which commonly occurs in elderly patients and
more frequently in females.
- Substance abuse, such as cocaine.
- Mass-occupying lesions, such as subdural hematoma, which,
although often causing continuous and progressive symptoms, can also lead to
transient ischaemic attacks.
- Hypercoagulable states.
The causes of transient ischaemic attacks in children differ
from those in adults, and include:
- Congenital heart diseases leading to cerebral embolism,
considered the major cause.
- Infections of the central nervous system.
- Vasculitis.
- Marfan syndrome.
- Tuberous sclerosis.
- Sickle cell anemia.
- Neurofibromatosis.
Factors Contributing to Transient ischaemic attack
Transient ischaemic attack can affect anyone, but there
are certain factors that increase the likelihood of experiencing TIA. These
factors include:
- Being over 55 years old.
- Having a family history of strokes.
- Previous occurrence of a ministroke.
- Smoking cigarettes.
- Having diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Obesity.
- Elevated levels of harmful cholesterol in the body.
- Presence of heart rhythm disorders such as atrial
fibrillation.
Transient Ischemic Attack
Mini tia symptoms vary depending on the area where blood
flows is interrupted, as the effects differ between regions responsible for
vision, speech regulation, and so on. Some of these symptoms include:
- Feeling weakness, numbness, or tingling in the face, hand,
or foot, typically affecting one side of the body.
- Feeling dizzy and experiencing loss of balance.
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, or vision
impairment or double vision.
- Speaking in unintelligible words, stuttering, or
difficulty understanding.
Patients may experience a single episode of mini stroke signs or
recurrent episodes, characterized by their short duration and rapid recovery.
How is a transient ischemic attack diagnosed?
The diagnosis of tia stroke is made through the
patient's medical history, which can be recounted by the patient if they are
able and have regained consciousness and their normal condition, or can be
described by a close associate of the patient. Then, a clinical examination of
the patient is performed to assess vital signs. Various imaging tests are then
conducted based on the patient's condition, such as:
- Ultrasound imaging of the carotid artery, the main artery
in the neck, to diagnose the presence of stenosis or obstruction.
- Computed tomography angiography.
- Magnetic resonance angiography to evaluate the condition
of the blood vessels in the brain and neck.
- Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance
angiography of the bloody vessels.
- Echocardiography.
- Color Doppler imaging of the blood vessels, where a catheter is inserted into the blood vessels up to the neck and a contrast agent is injected to detail the condition of the blood vessels in the brain accurately.
The physician evaluates the patient's condition and assesses
other factors causing the disease, such as obesity and high blood pressure. It
is also necessary to rule out other causes of tia symptoms, such as low blood sugar
or the use of medication or drugs, which can present similar symptoms.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Treatment
Due to the brief duration of tia attack symptoms, it is possible for the tia symptoms to resolve before emergency medical services arrive or before reaching the hospital. However, the primary goal is to prevent subsequent tia stroke, and therefore therapeutic measures are taken through medication, which is the main treatment in these cases to prevent the formation of blood clots or thrombosis, or through surgical intervention.
Pharmacological mini stroke treatment
Tia medical treat includes the following:
Tia medical term
- Antiplatelet agents such as clopidogrel.
- Anticoagulants.
- Medications for other conditions such as hypertension and cholesterol management.
Surgical Treat for tia stroke
This involves correcting the narrowing in the blood vessel
to provide normal blood flow to the brain.
To learn more about stroke, its types, and alternative medical treatments, read Stroke.