A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an ischemic stroke in which
the blood flow is restored quickly and the symptoms disappear
within 24 hours. In other words, it's a mini-stroke that you
recover from quickly. For most patients with a TIA, the symptoms
last less than one hour. The longer the symptoms last, the more
likely that there will be permanent brain tissue injury. TIAs
affect 1 in 15 persons over age 65 years, but often go
undiagnosed if the symptoms are not recognized. Approximately
15% of strokes are preceded by a warning TIA. Therefore,
recognition of TIA symptoms is important because preventative
treatment may help to reduce the chance of an impending stroke.
The risk of stroke is highest within the first 3 months
following a TIA, especially within the first few days. Within
the first month, the average risk of stroke after a TIA ranges
from 1 in 20 to 1 in 10. TIAs and strokes generally occur in
people with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or
coronary artery disease. In fact, people who