What is a TIA and what causes it?

Ask the Doctor
Leslee B. Cochrane, MD.
Medical Director

Ramona Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice

Question: “My father recently developed the sudden onset of weakness and numbness in his right arm and we rushed him to the hospital. At first, we thought it might be a stroke; but after a couple of hours, the symptoms totally resolved and we were told that this was likely a TIA. What exactly is a TIA and what causes them?”

The term TIA stands for “transient ischemic attack” and refers to a condition in which the blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked. TIA’s are sometimes referred to as “mini-strokes” because they produce the same symptoms as a stroke; but then resolve within 1-2 hours. Unlike a stroke where the blockage is permanent, a TIA is caused by a temporary blockage and there is no permanent residual damage.

Common symptoms of a TIA may include the following:

• Weakness, numbness or tingling (usually affecting one side of the body)
• Confusion, loss of coordination or balance
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Sudden loss or blurring of vision
  

The most common cause of a TIA is a blood clot and there are several risk factors for TIA’s including high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity and elevated cholesterol. Ten percent of patients who have a TIA will have a stroke within three months and 50% of those patients will have their stroke within 48 hours of the TIA. Because it is impossible to distinguish a TIA from a stroke at the onset, you should call 911 and seek emergency evaluation at the first sign of symptoms. The goal of treatment is risk factor reduction to reduce the chances of having a stroke.

In summary: do not ignore your TIA (transient ischemic attack), unless you want your brain to go MIA (missing in action).

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