While a stroke occurs suddenly for many people, others have a warning that they are at risk. This warning takes the form of a ‘mini-stroke’ or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). The symptoms are similar to those of a stroke (weakness, tingling, blurred vision, slurred speech, confusion), but they only last from a few minutes up to 24 hours. The cause of a transient ischaemic attack is nearly always the same as that of an ischaemic stroke - an obstruction in an artery that supplies the brain with blood. But the blockage moves so that the blood supply is restored before any damage is done to the brain.
This type of warning should not be ignored. It requires the same tests and investigations as a full stroke and, if a transient ischaemic attack is confirmed, similar treatment. Without treatment, someone who suffers a transient ischaemic attack has a 10 per cent chance of having a stroke within the following 12 months and a 5 per cent chance after that. It is therefore important for an affected person to be assessed for anti-clotting drugs and for treatment with drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. If the carotid arteries are sufficiently narrowed, a carotid end arterectomy may also be recommended.
This type of warning should not be ignored. It requires the same tests and investigations as a full stroke and, if a transient ischaemic attack is confirmed, similar treatment. Without treatment, someone who suffers a transient ischaemic attack has a 10 per cent chance of having a stroke within the following 12 months and a 5 per cent chance after that. It is therefore important for an affected person to be assessed for anti-clotting drugs and for treatment with drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. If the carotid arteries are sufficiently narrowed, a carotid end arterectomy may also be recommended.
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