Symptoms and Treatments

What is TIA?

TIA or Transient Ischemic Attack is a mini-stroke or more medically termed as a cerebro-vascular accident or CVA.

Description

TIA happens when some brain functions are impaired as a result of oxygen deprivation when blood circulation to a part of the brain is lost.  This is often temporary and if the blood supply is restored quickly enough, then the CVA symptoms are resolved and the impaired functions get restored.  This is why the stroke in the TIA is called transient.  The impaired brain functions are temporary.

Causes and Risk Factors of TIA

Loss of blood supply to portions of the brain results in a stroke.  Large portions deprived of blood over a long period can lead to coma or death. Loss of blood supply in certain regions, if not restored can cause permanent loss of the affected function controlled by that part of the brain.  In TIA, the loss of blood supply is transient and the impairment can resolve itself. The main cause of blood loss to the brain include

• Thrombosis: This is a blood clot that blocks the blood vessel feeding a part of the brain
• Embolism:  This is debris of blood clots carried by the blood vessel downstream to the brain.
• Atherosclerosis: A hardening of the arterial walls caused by fatty plaque formations can cause a rupture to cause blood clots to form.
• Atrial Fibrillation:  People with irregular heart beats can form flood clots t travel to the brain causing obstruction and loss of blood supply to that part.
• Aneurism: This is bleeding in the brain or brain hemorrhage where a blood vessel in the brain ruptures to spill blood into the brain matter either caused by a head trauma or unmanaged hypertension.  This condition often causes a more serious stroke or true stroke rather than a temporary one like a CVA.

You get increased predisposition to a stroke or CVA if you are chain smoker, have high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol levels.

Symptoms of TIA

The location in the brain when the loss of blood supply occurs determines the symptom.

• If the blood supply coming from the carotid arteries is lost, there’s weakness and paralysis as well as numbness of either left or right side of the body. Either a limb is affected or the whole side.
• If the blood supply is lost on the left side of the brain where speech control is location, then speech is partially or wholly lost.  Vision can also be lost.
• A decrease in the blood supply from vertebral arteries to the base of the brain will cause a sudden collapse or uncoordinated walking.  That’s why a karate chop to the back of the neck can immobilize or render a person unconsious.
• A special TIA causing temporary blindness in one eye can happen when debris from the carotid arteries block the ophthalmic artery that supplies blood to the eyes.

Under all symptoms, the blood supply is often restored quickly to resolve the stroke, usually within a few minutes from the onset of the symptom.  But full restoration of the faculties and movement control may not happen until after 24 hours. Otherwise, if they are not restored, you are looking at a true stroke where the impairment is permanent.

Diagnosis of TIA

Since most of the symptoms are often resolved within a few minutes of suffering a TIA, there’s not much a doctor can work with to diagnose the ailment expect to get a good reading of the patient’s medical history as well the family history and get as much details from the patient and those who were around when the TIA occurred.  A physical exam with careful focus on a neurological aspect is done and includes

• Testing for alertness and mental focus
• Checking the eye for any abnormal movement as well as facial movement to evaluate cranial nerves
• Listening to the neck with a stethoscope for narrowing of blood vessels that often create abnormal sounds
• Checking on heart rhythm to rule out atrial fibrillation
• Checking stimulus responses to the arms and legs
• Checking for walking coordination and balance control.

A neurologist or doctor may want a more thorough evaluation and may prescribe the following tests:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to confirm heart rate
• Computerized tomography or CT San on the brain to reveal any bleeding
• Carotid ultrasound to detect any constriction in the carotids in the neck
• Complete blood tests
• A suspicion that the heart caused the TIA will required an echocardiogram or sound wave testing of the heart.

Treatment of TIA

A TIA incident opens up the possibility that another TIA or even a more serious stroke can occur down the road.  Treating TIA is really about preventing another TIA seizure or subsequent occurrence.  There’s no way to predict future seizure nor ascertain the extent, hence, a preventive regimen in important.

• Anti-platelet therapy:  Aspirin controls platelet accumulation and 325 mg intake daily can help prevent the condition that could restrict blood flow to the brain.  If the patient is already taking aspirin when the TIA happened, another anti-platelet drug is advised.
• Hypertension therapy:  There are always benefits to managing high blood pressure with a goal of achieving 80/120 levels with both an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic.
• Cholesterol control: Anything to lower the bad cholesterol or triglycerides can minimize the risk of any heart related diseases, including strokes.
• Lifestyle changes:  Reducing alcohol intake and eliminating smoking and managing your weight with the right diet as well as regular exercise will help reduce the risk of a stroke.