Transient ischemic attack (tia, previous stroke)

Head | Neurology | Transient ischemic attack (tia, previous stroke) (Disease)


Description

A Transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops for a brief period of time. A person will have stroke-like symptoms for up to 24 hours, but in most cases for 1 - 2 hours.

A TIA is felt to be a warning sign that a true stroke may happen in the future.

Causes and Risk factors

The most common cause of stroke is represented by blood clots that block blood flow to the brain temporarily. Blood clots can form various reasons. A blood clot can form in an artery supplying the brain. Generally are susceptible arteries showing plaque buildup on the walls due process of atherosclerosis. Other causes of damage to the walls of small blood vessels in the brain are poorly treated or untreated hypertension and diabetes.

A blood clot can also form in another part of the body (often the heart chamber) and from there by intravascular migration can reach the level of a brain artery that partially or completely blocked. Blood clots can occur: after a heart attack (myocardial infarction); as a result of other heart disease that disrupts the normal flow of blood to the heart such as heart rhythm disturbances (most commonly chronic atrial fibrillation), heart valve disease and heart failure. In addition, an artery can be partially blocked by plaque, reducing blood flow to the brain until a critical level, leading to stroke symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment

TIA occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is temporarily reduced or blocked (partial or total obstruction) often due to a blood clot. This obstruction produces symptoms similar to those of a stroke up, but the difference is that blood flow is restored within minutes and the symptoms disappear completely. Unlike stroke, the stroke does not clear up the obstruction, blood flow is not restored, and brain injuries that occur are final.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Although transient ischemic events are temporary and disappear completely, the patient required a medical examination for diagnosis and proper treatment, in order to prevent the occurrence of stroke up. Many patients do not know they had a stroke to make a medical consultations in general for another reason, during which the doctor based on patient reportedly can establish a diagnosis . ...