Treating mini-strokes fast can reduce risk of...

Have you heard about TIAs or even had one in the past? It’s very common for people to get temporary warning symptoms before they have a stroke. Doctors call these symptoms a TIA, short for transient ischemic attack. This is also referred to as a mini-stroke.

Typical symptoms of a TIA include the sudden onset of:

· Weakness in an arm, hand, or leg

· Numbness on one side of the body

· Loss of vision, particularly in one eye

· Difficulty speaking

· Inability to understand what someone is saying

· Dizziness or loss of balance

Most TIAs last about 5 to 15 minutes. Then the symptoms may totally disappear. Because TIA symptoms often come and go so quickly, you may be tempted to ignore them.

But even one TIA is serious. It means that you have had a temporary blockage of blood flow to part of the brain. The cause could be a narrowing in one of the arteries in your neck. Or it could be that small blood clots have formed in your heart and traveled to the brain. (There are several other causes, but these are the two most common reasons that TIAs occur.)

What’s new?

A study published in the Lancet medical journal this month confirmed just how important it is to get immediate medical attention after a TIA. People who had a TIA reduced their risk of a major stroke 80% by getting medical care within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

In fact, you shouldn't wait at all if you get symptoms that suggest a TIA. It could actually be the start of a stroke. With emergency stroke treatment, doctors have a good chance of dissolving the clot before it causes permanent damage. This is really important to know—getting to the hospital as quickly as possible can save your life or lessen the effects of a stroke. Because people with stroke symptoms may not be thinking clearly, I always tell my patients and their family members that this is one of those times when an observer should not listen to the person experiencing the symptoms if he or she refuses to go to the hospital. Call 911.

With a TIA, the symptoms will go away completely. That's fortunate, but you still need to take action. The risk of stroke is highest right after a TIA. Contact your doctor or other health professional immediately.

Many strokes can be prevented simply by taking a small dose of aspirin daily. Or, you may need to take a different type of anti-clotting medicine. For a severely narrowed artery that causes a TIA, you may need surgery or angioplasty to open the artery, followed by stent placement.

Have you or a loved one had a stroke or a TIA? Were you able to get treatment immediately? What kinds of obstacles do you see in terms of getting treatment quickly?

Julie K. Silver, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. She is also the Chief Editor of Books for Harvard Health Publications.

Stroke
Despite its prevalence, stroke is highly preventable. From Harvard Medical School, Stroke: Preventing and treating "brain attack" is a special report that will help you assess your risk of stroke and teach you what you can do to reduce it. You’ll learn about the latest medical and surgical treatments for stroke, and find an overview of rehabilitation specialists and their techniques. This report also explores issues that your doctor may not cover, like the emotional experiences common to people who have suffered a stroke, with practical guidance on easing the way to recovery.