Transient Ischaemic Attack

Transient ischaemic attack is the result of a part of the brain experiencing less blood supply. Less supply of blood results in less supply of oxygen and it causes weakness in the face, weakness in the legs and arms and slurry speech.

Transient ischaemic attack is also called as a mini-stroke due to the fact that the symptoms are same as that of the stroke. The symptoms of a transient ischaemic attack will usually stop within minutes and completely gone within 24 hours. It is thought that about 35 out of 100,000 people in the UK suffer from transient ischaemic attack. People who show symptoms of transient ischaemic attack are advised to go to the doctor immediately as it can be recurring and may also lead to stroke. If not treated the stroke may cause lasting disability.

Symptoms

Face-Arm-Speech-Test (FAST) is a test to recognise transient ischaemic attack immediately for facial weakness, arm weakness, speech problem and test the above three symptoms.

It is advisable to get in touch with a doctor immediately if any of the symptoms are shown. One should not stop to see if the symptoms decrease. The symptoms of a TIA are often temporary and vanish within 15 minutes. The symptoms vary depending on which part of the brain has been affected. Some of the other possible symptoms are:

• Clumsiness, numbness, needles and pins, and weakness
• Problem with vision
• Dizziness
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Confusion

In some cases TIA is a sign of a possible full stroke and therefore the sooner one gets medical attention, the less possibility of getting a stroke or TIA again.

Causes

• Blocked Blood Vessels:
  The blood is supplied to the brain by the carotid arteries. Blood vessel that is blocked interrupts the blood supply to the brain is the primary reason for TIA.
• Atherosclerosis:
  Atherosclerosis is a condition that results in stenosis. It is caused when fat is deposited on the inner walls of the blood vessel and the vessels become thick, hard and less elastic, making it difficult for the flow of blood through them.
• Blood Clots:
  TIA can be the result of blood clots that block the supply of blood to the brain. Blood clot may be formed due to heart conditions like arterial fibrillation or congestive heart muscle, blood conditions like leukaemia, hyperlipidaemia, polycythaemia, excessive platelets in the blood (thrombocyaemia) or sickle cell anaemia, infections like phlebitis.
• Haemorrhage:
  It is a rare case but sometimes TIA can be caused due to bleeding in the brain.

Diagnosis

Some of the tests that are done are given below:

• Blood tests to check for blood pressure, clots and cholesterol.
• ECG (Electrocardiogram)
• X-ray of the chest
• Echocardiogram
• CT (Computerised Tomography) scan
• Ultrasound
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan

Treatments

Medical treatment – The following medicines may be recommended by the doctor to treatment of TIA

• Anti-platelet medication
• Aspirin and dipyridamole
• Clopidogrel
• Anti-coagulant medication
• Warfarin
• Medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol

Surgery – An operation called carotid endarterectomy is done to remove the inner damaged part of the artery and also the blockage that has formed.