Transient ischaemic attack or Mini stroke
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or “mini stroke” is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain.
The disruption in blood supply results in a lack of oxygen to the brain.
This can cause sudden symptoms similar to a stroke, such as speech and visual disturbance, and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs.
But a TIA does not last as long as a stroke. The effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of a TIA can be remembered with the word FAST:
Face – the face may have dropped on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
Arms – the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them raised because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm.
Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all, despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them
Time – it is time to see your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.
Causes
During a TIA, 1 of the blood vessels that supply your brain with oxygen-rich blood becomes blocked.
This blockage is usually caused by a blood clot that’s formed elsewhere in your body and travelled to the blood vessels supplying the brain, although it can also be caused by pieces of fatty material or air bubbles.
Certain things can increase your chances of having a TIA, including:
Smoking
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Obesity
High cholesterol levels
Regularly drinking an excessive amount of alcohol
Having a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation
Having diabetes
Treatment
Although the symptoms of a TIA resolve in a few minutes or hours, you’ll need treatment to help prevent another TIA or a full stroke happening in the future.
Treatment will depend on your individual circumstances, such as your age and medical history.
You’re likely to be given advice about lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your stroke risk.
In some cases, a surgery called a carotid endarterectomy may be needed to unblock your carotid arteries, which are the main blood vessels that supply your brain with blood.
Prevention
You can lower the risk of TIA by:
Maintaining a healthy weight
Eating a healthy, balanced diet
Doing regular exercise
Limiting alcohol
Not smoking.