Transient ischemic attack facts for kids

A transient ischemic attack (TIA), often called a mini-stroke, is like a temporary stroke. It causes symptoms similar to a full stroke, but these symptoms disappear completely within 24 hours. Think of it as a warning sign!

A TIA happens when the blood flow to a part of the brain is briefly interrupted. This is different from a major stroke, where the blood flow is blocked for longer, causing permanent damage to brain tissue. With a TIA, the blood flow gets back to normal before any lasting damage occurs.

Even though a TIA's symptoms go away, it's a serious event. It means you have a higher chance of having a major stroke later, sometimes even within 48 hours. Recognizing a TIA is a chance to get treatment and make lifestyle changes to help prevent a future, more serious stroke.

What Are the Signs of a Mini-Stroke?

The signs of a TIA can vary a lot and might look like other health problems. It's important to pay attention to these signs:

• Sudden, painless, temporary loss of vision in one eye.
• One side of the face drooping.
• Weakness in one arm or leg.
• Seeing double.
• Feeling dizzy or having trouble with balance.
• Problems seeing things in certain parts of your vision.
• Numbness or tingling on one side of your face or body.
• Trouble understanding or speaking words.
• Slurred speech.
• Walking unsteadily.
• Difficulty swallowing.

If you notice weakness or numbness, it usually happens on the opposite side of your body from where the problem is in your brain. For example, if the left side of your brain is affected, you might feel weak on your right side.

It's important to know that some symptoms are more likely to be a TIA than others. For example, sudden weakness on one side or temporary vision loss are strong signs. Things like memory loss, headaches, or blurry vision are less likely to be a TIA.

TIA vs. Other Conditions

Sometimes, other health issues can look like a TIA. Here’s how TIA symptoms compare to symptoms of conditions that might seem similar:

Symptoms like confusion, problems with coordination, or headaches are usually not signs of a TIA. However, if you have any sudden, unusual symptoms, it's always best to get medical help right away.

TIA symptoms can last from a few minutes to an hour or two. Sometimes they might last longer, but by definition, they must go away within 24 hours. If symptoms last longer than an hour, there's a higher chance of some permanent brain damage, so getting help quickly is very important.

What Causes a Mini-Stroke?

A TIA happens when something briefly blocks or slows down blood flow to the brain. Here are the most common reasons:

• Heart problems: A common cause is a heart condition called atrial fibrillation. In this condition, the heart beats irregularly, which can cause small blood clots to form. These clots can then travel to the brain and briefly block a blood vessel.
• Narrowed arteries: Sometimes, a fatty substance called plaque can build up inside your arteries, making them narrower. This is called atherosclerosis. If a piece of this plaque breaks off, it can travel to the brain and block a blood vessel for a short time. This often happens in the common carotid artery in your neck.
• Blood clots in brain vessels: A blood clot can also form directly inside a blood vessel in the brain, temporarily blocking blood flow.

Who Is at Risk for a Mini-Stroke?

Some things can increase your risk of having a TIA. These are split into two groups:

• Things you can't change:
  • Age (over 55)
  • Gender
  • Family history of strokes or TIAs
  • Genetics
  • Race/ethnicity
• Things you can change (modifiable risk factors):
  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Narrowing of the carotid artery (even if you don't have symptoms yet)
  • Not being active enough

Doctors often focus on helping people change these modifiable risk factors to lower their chance of having a TIA or a major stroke.

How Do Doctors Diagnose a Mini-Stroke?

When someone might have had a TIA, doctors first ask about their symptoms and do a physical exam, including checking their brain and nerve functions. They'll want to know exactly what symptoms happened, when they started, how long they lasted, and if anything made them better or worse. It's helpful if someone who saw the event can describe it.

The way doctors define a TIA has changed. It used to be based only on how long symptoms lasted. Now, it's also based on medical imaging. A TIA is now defined as a brief problem with brain function caused by a blood vessel issue, with symptoms usually lasting less than an hour, and no sign of permanent damage on brain scans.

Lab Tests for Mini-Strokes

Doctors will order blood tests to check for conditions that might look like a TIA, such as very low blood sugar. They also check for things that increase the risk of blood clots or bleeding. These tests help them understand your overall health and risk factors.

Heart Monitoring

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is done to check your heart's rhythm. This is important because irregular heartbeats, like atrial fibrillation, can cause blood clots that lead to TIAs. Sometimes, doctors might have you wear a special monitor for a day or longer to continuously check your heart rhythm.

Brain and Vessel Scans

Doctors use imaging tests to look at your brain and blood vessels:

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This is the best way to look at the brain for TIAs. It can show very small areas of damage that a CT scan might miss. Doctors usually try to do an MRI within 24 hours of symptoms starting.
• CT (Computed Tomography) Scan: This scan is faster and more widely available than an MRI. It's often used first to make sure there's no bleeding in the brain.
• Vessel Imaging: Doctors also look at the blood vessels in your head and neck to see if they are narrowed by plaque. They can use:
  • Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
  • CT angiography (CTA)
  • Carotid ultrasonography: This uses sound waves to check the carotid arteries in your neck. It's non-invasive and doesn't use radiation.

These tests help doctors find the cause of the TIA and decide on the best treatment.

What Else Could It Be?

Sometimes, symptoms that look like a TIA can be caused by other conditions. Doctors consider these possibilities:

How to Prevent a Mini-Stroke

While there isn't a lot of research specifically on preventing TIAs with lifestyle changes, doctors strongly recommend these healthy habits to lower your risk of both TIAs and major strokes:

• Don't smoke.
• Eat healthy: Focus on lots of fruits and vegetables. Cut down on unhealthy fats to prevent plaque buildup in your arteries. Limit salt to help keep blood pressure down.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

It's also very important to manage any existing health conditions that increase your risk, such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)