Transient ischemic attack
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Transient ischemic attack
Nervous system and special senses
Adverse effects of drugs on the nervous system
Cerebrovascular disease
Congenital disorders
Cranial and peripheral nerve disorders
Degenerative disorders or amnesic syndromes
Demyelinating disorders
Disorders relating to the spine, spinal cord, and spinal nerve roots
Global cerebral dysfunction
Infectious, immunologic, and inflammatory disorders
Metabolic disorders
Movement disorders
Neurologic pain syndromes
Neuromuscular disorders
Paroxysmal disorders
Sleep disorders
Traumatic and mechanical disorders and disorders of increased intracranial pressure
Disorders of the ear
Disorders of the eye and eyelid
Nervous system and special senses pathology review
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Transient ischemic attack
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First Aid
2024
2023
2022
2021
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) p. 442, 525
Summary
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by ischemia, without acute infarction. TIAs have the same underlying cause as strokes which is a disruption of cerebral blood flow. Symptoms usually last only a few minutes to an hour but may persist for up to 24 hours. TIAs cause the same symptoms associated with strokes, such as contralateral paralysis or sudden weakness or numbness.
A TIA may cause sudden dimming or loss of vision (amaurosis fugax), aphasia, dysarthria, and mental confusion. But unlike a stroke, the symptoms of a TIA can resolve within a few minutes or 24 hours. Having a TIA is a risk factor for eventually having a stroke or a silent stroke. Treatment may include blood thinners or antiplatelet medications to prevent blood clots, as well as lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, exercise, and a healthy diet to lower the risk of further TIAs or stroke. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove a blockage in the blood vessels.