A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is also commonly called a mini stroke, but don’t let the terminology of “mini” trick you into thinking that a TIA is nothing to get overly concerned about.
If TIAs were called something like “stroke forerunners,” maybe they’d be taken more seriously, not just by patients but by doctors. Unfortunately, modern humans don’t like to deal with klutzy-sounding names like stroke forerunners, and prefer simpler, funkier ones, like mini-stroke.
Have you ever downplayed the seriousness of a transient ischemic attack because it’s usually called a mini-stroke or TIA? Don’t get snarled in this deceptive web.
The latest study on TIAs says that serious disability can be the outcome. The report is in the journal Stroke (Sept. 2012) and also adds that often, doctors don’t take mini strokes very seriously.
The report says that patients who’ve had a transient ischemic attack are typically not given clot-busting drugs because physicians often consider TIAs too mild to warrant treatment.
Our study shows that TIA and minor stroke patients are at significant risk of disability and need early assessment and treatment,” explains lead study author Shelagh Coutts, MD.
Those who’ve had a TIA should be imaged earlier, says Dr. Coutts, and treatment should be more aggressive, she adds. The study was carried out at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
It doesn’t matter how minor the symptoms are in a mini stroke, because if imaging detects a blockage, that is serious business. A treatment called thrombolysis can dissolve blockages, says Dr. Coutts.
Nearly 500 patients who had a TIA took part in the study, and 90 days after experiencing their mini stroke, 15 percent had at least one mild disability. CAT scans showed narrowed blood vessels in brains of some patients. Other subjects reported continued or worsening of symptoms.
“For every second after a mini stroke, the patient’s brain may be losing oxygen — possibly leading to a major event,” says Dr. Coutts. She says that this means a high risk of becoming disabled.
Amazingly, it wasn’t until 2009 that the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommended swift action and complete testing for a transient ischemic attack — exams that can detect a blockage in brain blood vessels. These blockages are potential gateways to a catastrophic event.
So never mind if mini stroke symptoms pass quickly, says Dr. Coutts, because if you have them, “you should immediately go to the hospital, where proper scans can be done,” she urges. “If ignored, these symptoms can lead to death. This is not a benign disease.”
To learn more about all the symptoms and how significant TIAs or mini strokes really are, check out these articles:
- Can a TIA permanently damage the brain?
- Can a TIA happen just once even if someone doesn’t receive treatment?
- Can stress cause a TIA?
- Is it safe to exercise after a TIA?
- Can a TIA cause just one symptom?
- How much does a TIA raise heart attack risk?
Source:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120913162437.htm
