What type of stroke can last only minutes and doesn’t cause permanent damage to the brain? A transient ischemic attack (TIA), which occurs when part of the brain loses blood supply for a short time. Don’t overlook TIA symptoms just because they’re temporary – they signal a full-blown stroke could follow in the days, weeks or months ahead. You can reduce your risk of stroke by managing risk factors.

How Do TIAs Differ From Ischemic Strokes?

TIAs and ischemic strokes – the most common type of stroke – cause the same symptoms and often occur for the same reason. Usually, in both cases, a blood clot in an artery in or leading to the brain blocks blood flow.

With a TIA, the blood clot breaks up on its own. Symptoms often come and go quickly, usually within five minutes, according to the American Stroke Association. In some cases, though, TIA symptoms can last up to 24 hours.

Symptoms of an ischemic stroke can last longer than TIA symptoms. In addition, with an ischemic stroke, clot-busting medication or a procedure is necessary to remove the blockage. Time is of the essence – an ischemic stroke can cause lasting brain damage, and the risk rises the longer you go without treatment.

Recognizing TIA Symptoms

TIA symptoms occur without warning and may come and go for hours, although they’re usually brief. Like an ischemic stroke, a TIA may cause:

• Changes to your vision
• Difficulty speaking or understanding others when they speak
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Numbness on one side of the body

What to Do if You Experience TIA Symptoms

When stroke-like symptoms occur, you can’t tell whether they’re from a TIA or stroke. As soon as you experience the warning signs, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department, where the medical team can determine the cause of your symptoms.

The team will perform imaging tests, such as a CT or MRI scan, to look for stroke-related brain changes. You may also have an angiogram, a test that uses dye to allow physicians to watch how it moves through your blood vessels as they look for blockages.

Treating a TIA

If you had a TIA, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days so the medical team can treat high blood pressure or other conditions that may have led to the brief stroke. The team may have you take a blood thinner, which reduces your risk of future blood clots.

If you have a persistent blockage in the carotid artery – an artery that supplies blood to the brain and runs on each side of your neck – you may need a procedure called a carotid endarterectomy. During this procedure, a surgeon will restore blood flow through the artery by removing accumulated plaque.

Once you’ve had a TIA, you’re more likely to have a stroke. Think of a TIA as a call to action. Moving forward, follow these tips to reduce your stroke risk:

• Exercise regularly.
• Follow a heart-healthy eating plan.
• Manage chronic conditions that can contribute to a TIA, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes.
• Quit smoking.
• Treat atrial fibrillation, an important TIA risk factor.

By making healthy lifestyle changes after a TIA, you may protect your brain health for years to come.