Job Hazards

Transient Ischemic Attack

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a "warning" or "mini" stroke featuring symptoms similar to a stroke without any permanent damage. Early treatment of a TIA will lower your odds of suffering a major stroke. Most stroke victims never have a TIA first, but of those who have experienced at least one, more than 33 percent of them will go on to have a stroke. Someone who has had a TIA has a greater likelihood of suffering a stroke than someone else of the same age and sex who has no history of TIA.

A TIA does not necessarily help forecast when a person will have a stroke, but it is a great indicator if one is going to happen. About 50 percent of the time, a stroke strikes within a year of a TIA, but it may only be days or weeks from the date of the TIA.

Transient Ischemic Attack Causes

If an artery becomes momentarily blocked by a blood clot, creating an obstacle for the blood being pumped to the brain, a TIA occurs. The onset of symptoms is unexpected, and they are usually over before the victim realizes what has happened. A TIA usually lasts under five minutes, while the average length is approximately one minute. Unlike a stroke, when a TIA has run its course, the brain remains unharmed.

Symptoms of Transient Ischemic Attacks

Symptoms related to TIA are identical to those associated with stroke, but they do not last nearly as long. They can include:

• Weakness or lack of feeling in the face or extremities (confined to one side of the body)
• Confusion and problems comprehending things
• Trouble speaking
• Deteriorating vision in at least one eye
• Difficulty walking, vertigo, and loss of balance or motor functions
• Painful headache without any particular cause

If you begin to experience or witness these symptoms firsthand, do not let them go untreated. Call 911 immediately. A medical professional will be able to deterime whether the patient has suffered a TIA or stroke, or if it may be a less severe problem with comparable symptoms (such as a seizure, fainting, or migraine). Receiving immediate medical assistance for any of these symptoms is extremely important.