Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

ADVANTAGES OF EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT FOR TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACKS (TIA) AT THE OBERIG CLINIC

• The Stroke Center of the Oberig Clinic has been operating for over 15 years (since 2010), and during this time it has become a leader in Ukraine in the quality of specialized care - over 80% of patients do not need outside help in everyday life, and mortality rates and the frequency of complications are 5 times lower than the average in Ukraine.
• The Stroke Center provides a full cycle of diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation care for patients who have suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• The reception is conducted by highly qualified doctors who specialize in the treatment of vascular diseases of the brain and are recognized experts in the field.
• All necessary studies are available to determine the causes of TIA (CT, MRI, ultrasound, laboratory diagnostics, etc.), as well as consultations with related specialists (cardiologist, endocrinologist).
• Hospitalization at the Stroke Center is carried out around the clock. If a TIA or stroke is suspected, when calling the ambulance of the universal clinic "Oberig", medical care begins immediately, immediately upon arrival at the scene, and if necessary, transportation to the clinic for hospitalization at the Stroke Center is carried out.

You can make an appointment for a consultation by calling +38 044 521 30 03 or call an ambulance 30 03

ABOUT THE DISEASE

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief (usually less than an hour) episode of impaired cerebral circulation that causes sudden neurological impairment (for example, weakness of an arm and/or leg on one side of the body, speech or vision impairment, dizziness with nausea and vomiting). TIA is often called a “mini-stroke.” The symptoms of a TIA are almost the same as those of an acute stroke, but they quickly disappear without medical intervention.
Since no neurological impairment remains after a TIA, people who have suffered it do not often seek medical attention, believing that nothing is in danger. This is a big mistake!
A TIA indicates a high risk of a full-scale ischemic stroke in the coming days or weeks, so the patient should immediately undergo an examination to determine the causes of the impaired cerebral circulation and prescribe treatment to prevent a stroke.
As with stroke, the risk of TIA is increased in people with high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and those who smoke or abuse alcohol.

SYMPTOMS OF TIA

Most cases of TIA occur in people over 55 years of age. The symptoms of a transient ischemic attack are the same as those of an acute stroke:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of one side of the face, one arm, or one leg;
• Sudden inability to speak or understand spoken language;
• Sudden vision loss (such as partial or complete loss of vision in one eye or double vision);
• Sudden and extremely severe headache;
• Sudden loss of balance and inability to walk without help.

CAUSES OF TIA

The most common cause of TIA is atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the brain. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include smoking, high blood pressure, eating a diet high in animal fats, being overweight, being sedentary, and having diabetes. A sign of atherosclerosis is high cholesterol.

An atherosclerotic plaque can become damaged, and a thrombus (blood clot) forms at this site, partially or completely blocking the artery. Alternatively, the thrombus can break off and travel with the blood stream until it blocks a narrower vessel in the brain.

In some cases (for example, in a type of cardiac arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation), a thrombus forms in the heart and travels with the blood to the brain, causing a TIA.

TIA AND THE RISK OF STROKE

If an artery is blocked for more than a few minutes, damage develops to the area of the brain that is deprived of blood. However, in TIA, unlike stroke, a large area of necrosis does not have time to form in the brain, but only small lesions appear. In TIA, in most cases, the symptoms completely resolve within 1-2 hours, while a stroke can have permanent neurological consequences.

In TIA, the greatest risk of a full-scale stroke occurs in the first few days. It is estimated at 4-10%. The risk of stroke is especially high if the following features are present:

• age over 60 years,
• diabetes,
• high blood pressure (above 140/90) after TIA,
• weakness of the arm/leg on one side of the body during TIA,
• speech disorders during TIA,
• symptoms of TIA that last 60 minutes or longer.

Despite the fact that TIA quickly resolves on its own, it is a reason for immediate hospitalization, examination and preventive treatment. Another reason to call emergency services is that the first symptoms of stroke and TIA are not different, and what seems to be a TIA may turn out to be a stroke with a wave-like course. If alarming symptoms appear, you should not wait for them to disappear, and you should immediately call an ambulance. You should act on the assumption that a stroke has occurred.

DIAGNOSIS OF TIA

The diagnosis of "TIA" is made retrospectively if there are no abnormalities at the time of examination by a neurologist. It is recommended to conduct a number of laboratory tests, including a clinical blood test with a platelet count, a biochemical profile with a lipid profile, etc.

All patients who have suffered a TIA should undergo neuroimaging (CT or MRI of the head) to clarify the presence and nature of brain damage. CT or MRI can also be used to assess the condition of the blood vessels that supply the brain, which are called CT and MRI angiography, respectively. Ultrasound (Doppler) may also be used to determine if there is narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels.

Electrocardiography (ECG) or long-term heart rate monitoring is used to diagnose heart conditions and detect abnormal heart rhythms. Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) may be needed if a blood clot is suspected in the heart. Holter monitoring (long-term ECG recording) may also be used if a heart rhythm disorder is suspected.

TREATMENT OF TIA

All patients with a high risk of stroke are shown hospitalization in a hospital. The optimal treatment plan is determined depending on the cause of TIA, the time that has passed since the appearance of the first symptoms and concomitant diseases. The goal of therapy is to reduce the risk of stroke. The following types of treatment are used for this:

• Correction of risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.;
• Antithrombotic therapy;
• Lowering cholesterol levels;
• Anticoagulant therapy;
• Revascularization.

Antithrombotic therapy is prescribed to prevent the re-formation of blood clots. A well-known example of antithrombotic agents is acetylsalicylic acid, which has such an important advantage as an affordable price. Clopidogrel is also used. 

Anticoagulant therapy also reduces the risk of blood clots, but it is not indicated for all patients. It is most often used for a heart rhythm disorder such as atrial fibrillation.

Revascularization is a medical term that means restoring blood flow to an organ. Some patients are shown surgical intervention - restoring the lumen of the carotid artery.

All patients who have suffered a TIA are strongly recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle - quit smoking, lose extra pounds, engage in regular physical activity and eat right.

The effectiveness of preventive measures is often underestimated. Meanwhile, there is evidence that quitting smoking reduces the risk of stroke by 60% in just six months, and switching to a Mediterranean diet - by 50% in two years.

Most strokes are ischemic, and approximately every fifth case of acute ischemic stroke is preceded by a TIA. Timely treatment of TIA makes it possible to prevent the development of a full-scale stroke with catastrophic consequences.

If you have suffered a TIA, call the Universal Clinic "Oberig" at +38 044 521-30-03 or 30 03 and make an appointment with a neurologist at the Stroke Center! We will provide a quick examination and effective treatment to reduce the risk of stroke. Contact specialists - it can save your life and health!