Transient Ischemic Attack

Transient Ischemic Attack

Also called: Mini-stroke, TIA

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a stroke that comes and goes quickly. It happens when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your brain. This causes the blood supply to the brain to stop briefly. Symptoms of a TIA are like other stroke symptoms, but do not last as long. They happen suddenly, and include

• Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Loss of balance or coordination

Most symptoms of a TIA disappear within an hour, although they may last for up to 24 hours. Because you cannot tell if these symptoms are from a TIA or a stroke, you should get to the hospital quickly.

TIAs are often a warning sign for future strokes. Taking medicine, such as blood thinners, may reduce your risk of a stroke. Your doctor might also recommend surgery.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

• Transient Ischemic Attack(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)(American Heart Association)

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Latest News Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment Prevention/Screening	Rehabilitation/Recovery Related Issues	Tutorials
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Clinical Trials Journal Articles	Organizations Statistics	No links available

• Overviews
  • Transient Ischemic Attack(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Transient Ischemic Attack Animation(American Heart Association)
• Latest News
  • Mini-Stroke Can Mean Major One Within Hours(06/01/2009, HealthDay)
  • Consider Transient Ischemic Attacks an Emergency, Groups Urge(05/07/2009, HealthDay)
• Diagnosis/Symptoms
  • Carotid Ultrasound(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Carotid Ultrasound Imaging(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Functional MR Imaging (fMRI) -- Brain(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Let's Talk about Stroke, TIA and Warning Signs(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF

    Also available in Spanish

  • Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

• Treatment
  • Non-Surgical Procedures Open Blocked Arteries to Prevent and Treat Stroke(Society of Interventional Radiology)
  • What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents?(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF
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• Prevention/Screening
  • Aspirin in Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention(American Heart Association)
  • Carotid Endarterectomy(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Lipid Profile(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • Stents(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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• Rehabilitation/Recovery
  • Post-Stroke Rehabilitation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

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• Related Issues
  • Avoiding Another Stroke(American Stroke Association)
  • Carotid Artery Disease, Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)(Society for Vascular Surgery)
  • JAMA Patient Page: Transient Neurological Attacks(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF

    Also available in Spanish

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• Tutorials
  • Carotid Endarterectomy(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  Return to top
• Clinical Trials
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Ischemic Attack, Transient(National Institutes of Health)
  Return to top
• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Know the signs of a mini-stroke. A transient ischemic attack...
  • Article: Inherited prothrombotic risk factors in children with stroke, transient ischemic...
  • Article: Transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography: difficulties in the performance and...
  • Transient Ischemic Attack -- see more articles
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• Organizations
  • American Heart Association
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

    Also available in Spanish

  • National Stroke Association
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• Statistics
  • Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -- 2008 Update(American Heart Association) - Large PDF file
  Return to top

• Related Topics

  • Stroke
  • Blood, Heart and Circulation
  • Brain and Nerves
  
  

• National Institutes of Health

  • The primary NIH organization for research on Transient Ischemic Attack is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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