Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

What are the causes of a ministroke?

Blood clots are the leading cause of ministrokes. When there’s a clot in an artery that’s connected to the brain, blood can’t flow as freely as it needs to, which means the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs to work properly. In a ministroke, these clots are usually temporary and are reabsorbed quickly, restoring proper blood flow. Occasionally, fatty material in the artery (plaque) or an air bubble can cause a ministroke. Rarely, a small amount of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage) can cause a ministroke. The risk of blood clots goes up with age, since the older we get, the narrower our blood vessels get. Other factors that can increase the likelihood of experiencing a blood clot include:

• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• narrowed arteries caused by plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in or around the brain
• smoking
• diabetes
• high cholesterol
• obesity

What are the risk factors of ministroke and stroke?

High blood pressure is a major risk factor of both ministroke and stroke. Over time, untreated high blood pressure can damage the inner walls of the arteries, resulting in atherosclerosis. This plaque buildup can rupture and lead to blood clots in these arteries. These abnormalities can lead to a ministroke and stroke. If you’ve received a high blood pressure diagnosis from a doctor, it’s important to keep track of your blood pressure on a routine basis. Additional risk factors for stroke fall into two categories: risk factors you can control Trusted Source and those you can’t Trusted Source. While having one or more of these risk factors does not immediately mean you will have a stroke or ministroke, it’s important for you and your doctor to keep an eye on any preexisting conditions.

Risk factors you can control?

• Smoking. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke can harm the cardiovascular system, greatly increasing the risk of stroke.
• Diabetes. Untreated type 1 and type 2 diabetes increases the risk of stroke.
• Eating a high fat diet. Eating a lot of foods high in saturated fat and trans fat (e.g., lots of red meat, fried foods, and fast food) can raise your cholesterol, which in turn can raise your risk of stroke.
• Lack of physical activity. Not getting enough exercise can raise the risk of stroke.
• Obesity. Obesity can increase the risk of developing other conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol, which in turn increase the risk of stroke.

Risk factors you can’t control?

• Age. While the risk of stroke increases as we age, it’s still possible for younger people to have a stroke.
• Family history. If others in your family have had a stroke, especially before age 65, your risk of having one is increased. Race. African Americans have a higher riskTrusted Source of stroke than other racial groups.
• Sex. Females have a higher risk of stroke than males due to certain factors such as pregnancy, a history of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, oral contraceptive use, and postmenopausal hormone therapy..

How can you prevent a ministroke?

While there may be some risk factors you can’t control, you can take the following precautions to lower your risk:

• If you smoke, quit smoking. Consider reaching out to a healthcare
• professional to create a quit plan.
• Avoid secondhand smoke when possible.
• Eat a nutrient-rich diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Maintain a moderate weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• If you drink, limit your alcohol intake.
• Avoid using illegal drugs.
• Limit your fat intake, especially saturated and trans fats.
• If you have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or another underlying health condition, work with your healthcare team to manage it and find a treatment that works best for you.

How long does a ministroke last?

The symptoms of a ministroke can last as briefly as a few seconds. By definition, ministrokes last for fewer than 24 hours. Often, the symptoms may be gone by the time you get to a doctor. Your symptoms may not be present while a doctor evaluates you, so you have to describe the event after your symptoms have disappeared. Duration aside, symptoms of a ministroke are the same as symptoms of an ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. Even if your symptoms dissipate or disappear before you get to your doctor or the emergency room, it’s essential to let the medical team know what happened.

What should you do if someone’s having a stroke?

Symptoms that come on suddenly and without warning could signify a stroke or ministroke. One helpful way to remember what to look out for is to think about the word “FAST”:

Call 107 or local emergency services if you or someone around you has any of these symptoms.

How is a ministroke diagnosed?

A ministroke doesn’t typically lead to permanent brain damage, but you still need an urgent medical examination if you have symptoms of a ministroke. The only way to tell the difference between a ministroke and a stroke is by having a doctor look at an image of your brain with either a CT scan or an MRI scan. If you’ve had an ischemic stroke, it’s likely that it won’t show up on a CT scan of your brain for 24 to 48 hours. An MRI scan usually shows a stroke sooner. In evaluating the cause of the ministroke or stroke, a doctor will likely order an ultrasound to see whether there’s significant blockage or plaque in your carotid arteries. You’ll also need an echocardiogram to look for blood clots in your heart or a communication between the two sides of the heart, called a PFO. The doctor will also take an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and may take a chest X-ray. If the doctor believes you’ve had a cryptogenic stroke, which means they can’t quite determine the cause, a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) Trusted Source may be part of the workup. This involves inserting a probe through the esophagus to provide a clearer image of the heart.

How are ministrokes treated?

Treatment for ministrokes focuses on starting or adjusting medications that improve blood flow to the brain. It also requires identifying abnormalities that your doctor can fix to reduce your risk of future ministrokes or strokes. Treatment options include medications, medical or surgical procedures, and lifestyle changes.

Antiplatelet drugs

Antiplatelet drugs make your platelets less likely to stick together to prevent blood clots. These medications include:

Anticoagulants

These medications prevent blood clots by targeting proteins that cause clotting, rather than targeting the platelets. This category includes: