An attack is something fast, swift and short-lived. So transient ischemic brain attack (TIA) is a sudden, short-term disturbance of cerebral circulation.
It is also called a mini-stroke due to the similarity of symptoms and manifestations, however, unlike a stroke, an ischemic attack is short-lived - it is mainly observed for no more than an hour and does not entail irreversible brain damage. All neurological functions are restored no longer than in one day, and sometimes the patient may even think that he had some kind of fleeting disorder that passed without a trace. And this is the main mistake, which can even later become fatal. An ischemic attack is serious, because if it is repeated, it can turn into a stroke. Therefore, TIA is not the case when you can say: "It worked out - and thank God!" A call to the doctors is necessary, and their task, I must say, is very difficult, to correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment.
The insidiousness of this disease is transience. Blood flow temporarily stops to one of the brain areas, but the blockage of the vessel quickly disintegrates, and the patient returns to his normal state. "Transitorius" in Latin - "passing", hence the "transient ischemic attack." Symptoms suddenly appear and quickly disappear, so that by the time of the medical examination, the clinical picture is smeared, and this makes the diagnosis difficult. Therefore, the patient’s story about sensations and information received from people who witnessed an attack of the disease are of particular importance.
An ischemic attack is not in vain compared with a stroke - the signs are very similar. This may be dizziness and loss of coordination, delayed reaction, temporary memory loss with the inability to recognize surrounding objects and people, problems with vision and speech, muscle weakness or numbness on one side of the body. If the attacks are repeated, severe paralysis, blindness in one or both eyes, difficulty swallowing and illegible speech are possible. But, we repeat, usually most of these symptoms disappear without a trace within an hour, so the patient should be placed in a medical institution, conduct a full examination, tests and tests that exclude a stroke.
Subsequent treatment is necessary even if any complications are excluded and no symptoms and consequences are observed. Its purpose is to prevent repeated TIAs and stroke. It can be medication, with the appointment of antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, drugs that lower cholesterol. Perhaps the doctor will consider it necessary to prescribe surgery if the carotid artery has been narrowed due to fat deposits. Another option is angioplasty, which is used to open a blocked artery.
The transferred ischemic attack is also, of course, an occasion to take care of your health. After all, about ten percent of people who had TIA develop a stroke within three months. And each subsequent ischemic attack can be more difficult and, ultimately, again, can turn into a stroke. You should be aware that the risk of TIA increases overweight, malnutrition with a predominance of fats and salts, low physical activity and bad habits. With age, the elasticity of the walls of the arteries decreases, which also increases the likelihood of developing ischemic attack. Additional risk factors are diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, diseases of the peripheral and carotid arteries, and any cardiovascular disease.
So, your body repulsed the attack, but now you must help strengthen the defenses. Follow the doctor’s prescriptions, adhere to a healthy diet, lead a healthy lifestyle - and then TIA will remain for you only a passing unpleasant memory.