Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Is There Such a Thing as a Mini-stroke?

A stroke is a terrible thing to have happen to anyone, but is there such a thing as a mini-stroke? And if so, what is it? Well, there is a condition that mimics the symptoms of a stroke, only without the devastating effects. This is known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA. People are advised to consider a TIA as a warning sign that something bigger might be on the horizon. A stroke isn't always preceded by a TIA, but quite a few people who suffer from TIAs also have full strokes later on down the line. Therefore, the attack should never be ignored. There's no exact way to predict when a stroke might occur after a TIA, since people with TIAs have gone weeks or years without a stroke, and sometimes might not have a full blown stroke at all.

The cause of a TIA is relatively simple, but hard to predict. When a blood clot clogs up an artery for a short time, it deprives the brain of needed blood and oxygen. This causes the symptoms of weakness, numb feeling in arms or legs, garbled speech, vision problems, confused state and a migraine like headache. These symptoms come on very rapidly and don't generally last for more than a few minutes, but can persist for hours. Unlike a full stroke, the TIAs don't usually cause any brain damage. Even though some of the TIA symptoms might be similar to other conditions, a person should always see their doctor right away. Migraines could be confused for a TIA due to the sudden onset of headache, occasional confusion or even trouble with vision.