Have you had a mini stroke?

TIAs are a warning sign, but would you know if you’d had one? asks health writer Charlotte Haigh

What is a TIA?

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA), to give a mini stroke its official name, is a type of stroke caused by a blockage in the blood supply to your brain that clears quickly, always within 24 hours and sometimes within seconds. The symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of a stroke – problems with your speech and vision and numbness or weakness in your face, arms and legs – but they don’t last as long.

Always take them seriously

“Using the term ‘mini stroke’ can be misleading because people think it’s something they don’t really have to worry about,” says Pippa Tyrell, Professor of Stroke Medicine at the University of Manchester. “But really they are a warning sign, an early signal that something might be amiss, giving you the chance to make some positive changes to your health and lifestyle. “We are beginning to realise that TIAs can sometimes lead to some very small amounts of brain damage that may not be obvious to you, but might be seen on a scan,” says Pippa. “They might, if they happen repeatedly, lead to memory loss or other problems such as tiredness or issues with thinking and concentration.” One recent study has even linked TIAs to a raised risk of dementia. “A TIA is also a sign you may have a full-blown stroke soon,” says Caroline Watkins Professor of Stroke & Older People’s Care at the University of Central Lancashire.

What causes TIAs?

“TIAs are caused by a temporary blockage to an artery by a small blood clot or fragment. That’s unlikely to be a one-off – there are probably other fragments coming from the same place and it’s likely one will get completely stuck, causing a full stroke. One in five people who have a full ischaemic stroke have had a TIA first. But that’s an underestimate because lots of people don’t realise they’ve had a TIA.” Caroline says: “A TIA may only last seconds. A stroke is about loss of sensation, speech or motor control and if that doesn’t last long, you may not be aware of it. It’s more likely someone you’re with will notice it.”

TIAs are a warning and should be taken as an early sign that something is amiss