INFORMATION ON TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

A transient ischemic attack is a transient stroke that lasts only a few minutes. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted due to cut off of oxygen supply in brain. Transient ischemic attack symptoms, which usually occur suddenly, are similar to those of stroke but do not last as long. Most symptoms of a transient ischemic attack disappear within an hour, although they may persist for up to 24 hours. Men are at 3 time’s greater risk than females. The risk increases for those older than 45 years. People in their 70s and 80s are at the greatest risk for TIA and stroke.
Some physicians make a comparison of chest pain and heart attack to transient ischemic attacks and stroke—and even refer to the stroke as a brain attack. Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the United States.

SYNONYMS OF TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

1. Little stroke; Mini stroke; Mini-stroke
2. Temporary and focal loss of cerebral function,
3. Cerebral blood flow reduction

CAUSES OF TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

The cause of a transient ischemic attack is a temporary decrease in blood supply to part of your brain. Most attacks last just a few minutes.
A Transient ischemic attack has the same origins as that of an ischemic stroke. In ischemic strokes, which are the most common type of stroke, a clot blocks the blood supply to part of your brain. But in contrast to a stroke, which involves a more prolonged lack of blood supply and causes some permanent damage to your brain tissue, a Transient ischemic attack doesn't leave lasting effects to your brain.
Often is a buildup of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits called plaques in an artery or one of its branches that supply oxygen and nutrients to your brain? Plaques can decrease the blood flow through an artery or lead to the development of a clot. Other causes include a blood clot moving to the brain from another part of the body, most commonly from the heart.

SYMPTOMS OF TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

The symptoms of a Transient ischemic attack appear and then go away because the human body has the ability to restore blood flow to the affected part of the brain under these circumstances. Small blood clots that form within the blood vessels can be broken down using the body's own protective mechanism.

Symptoms may include:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
3. Sudden troubles seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
6. The short duration of these symptoms and lack of permanent brain injury is the main difference between TIA and stroke.

DIAGNOSIS OF TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

Tests for Transient Ischemic Attack may include tests to determine the cause and extent of blood vessel involvement, and to rule out stroke or other disorder that may cause the symptoms.

1. CBC and PT tests are used to rule out hematologic disease.
2. Head CT scan or cranial MRI are used to rule out focal lesions as the cause of symptoms.
3. A carotid duplex may be performed if there is suspected carotid stenosis.
4. An echocardiogram may be performed to look for a source of embolism.
5. A cerebral arteriogram may be performed if there is suspected localized vascular disease, such as carotid artery stenosis or Vasculitis
6. Other tests and procedures may be performed to determine underlying disorders and to rule out other disorders that may cause the symptoms. This may include examination for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, high blood lipids, Vasculitis, and peripheral vascular disease. These tests and procedures may include:

Blood glucose, Blood chemistry, Serum lipids, ESR, Tests for syphilis, ECG, Chest X- ray, Echocardiography

TREATMENT OF TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

The first step in preventing a stroke is to control, if possible, the major risk factors for it: high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and diabetes. In addition, antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin and dipyridamole, can be taken.
Depending on a patient's medical history and the results of a medical examination, the doctor may recommend drug therapy or surgery to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had a Transient Ischemic Attack. The use of antiplatelet agents, particularly aspirin, is a standard treatment for patients at risk for stroke. People with atrial fibrillation may be prescribed anticoagulants.