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Although its symptoms may not last, a
TIA is considered a medical emergency
and can be a precursor of stroke.
NO ONE IS IMMUNE
to
the risk of stroke. O en called
a brain attack, stroke can af-
fect a person of any age, sex
or race, and it can happen
without warning. That’s a
sobering reality.
“About percent of strokes
are preceded by a transient
ischemic attack (TIA),” says
Lance Lee, MD, neurologist
and medical director of the
Glendale Adventist Advanced
Primary Stroke Center. “ is
warning stroke—or mini-
stroke—is a foreshadowing
that a larger, more serious
stroke may soon be on the
way.”
If you know the signs of
TIA and act quickly, you may
be able to reduce your risk
for a major stroke and help
protect your brain.
TRANSIENT, NOT TRIVIAL
A TIA is similar to a stroke
in that both are usually the result of a clot in an ar-
tery that obstructs blood flow to the brain. They also
have the same symptoms. Unlike a stroke, however,
a TIA doesn’t cause permanent injury to the brain. It
usually lasts less than five minutes, but it can last up
to hours.
Dr. Lee warns that symptoms of both a TIA and stroke
happen suddenly and can include:
Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg—
especially on one side.
Confusion.
Trouble speaking or understanding.
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Trouble walking or maintaining coordination and
balance.
Severe headache with no known cause.
Although its symptoms may not last, a TIA is still
a medical emergency. First, only a doctor can deter-
mine if you’ve had a TIA or a stroke. Second, prompt
medical or surgical treatment of a TIA may prevent a
future stroke.
Know stroke? Get the facts
Gender, race and
regional facts
Death and
disability facts
In most age groups stroke
is more common in men
than in women.
Stroke is a major cause
of death and disability in
the U.S.
At all ages, more women
than men die of stroke.
On average, someone
in the U.S. has a stroke
every 40 seconds.
African Americans have al-
most twice the risk of a first
stroke than Caucasians.
On average, one
American dies of stroke
every 4 minutes.
Strokes are more common
in the southeastern U.S.
than in other areas of the
U.S.
During a stroke, 2 million
brain cells die each
minute, increasing the
risk of permanent brain
damage, disability or
death.
Sources: American Stroke Association; National Stroke Association
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA)
DON’T IGNORE THIS WARNING STROKE
UNDERSTAND YOUR RISK
A TIA is a strong predictor
of stroke risk, reports the American Stroke Association. A
person who has had a TIA is almost times more likely
to have a full-blown stroke than someone of the same age
and sex who hasn’t had a TIA.
at’s why it’s important to reduce your risk for stroke
if you’ve had a TIA. Risk factors for both TIAs and stroke
include:
Having high blood pressure
Smoking
Having heart disease
Having diabetes.
Your doctor can o er advice and treatment to help
lower your risk. For example, he or she may recommend
that you increase your physical activity, eat a healthy diet
or quit smoking.
Other treatments include taking medicines, such as
aspirin or blood thinners, and having surgery.
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