Stroke is the injury of brain nerves cells due to interrupting in the blood flow from either bleeding or interaction [1]. The main cause of strokes is the blockage in blood artery supply, called ischemic stroke. When the clot blocks the brain oxygen supply temporarily and the flow of the blood flows again by itself that is labelled as TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). As a result, the clinical signs caused by TIA are short and typically less than 60 mins. However, one must not ignore TIA symptoms because it is a warning event for a more severe stroke that could happen shortly after [2]. TIAs can cause weakness, dizziness, speech and comprehension problems and blindness. People that have a TIA have a greater risk of to get a cerebrovascular event in the next following months [3]. Therefore, TIA is a warning sign and can provide guidelines for preventing the occurrence of a major stroke [4].
There are two types of risk factors, those we cannot control and other can be modified. Non-controlled factors such as genetic history, age, sex, blood inherited disease and race. The other categories can be controlled, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular problems. Also, lifestyle behaviours for instance, smoking, healthy diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, and drug use [4].
Prevention:
The best practice to prevent the incidence of TIAs is living a healthy lifestyle and regular medical flow up of the modifiable risk factors. In addition, regularly work with primary health care to cure any condition that may increase the risk of ATIs incidence especially with a history of previous stroke.
References:
1. Morris, Jane G., et al. “”Stroke: a road map for subacute management.”” Journal of Family Practice, June 2017, p. 366+. Academic One File, Accessed 11 Oct. 2018.,
2. https://oregon.providence.org/forms-and-information/a/ask-an-expert-stroke-vs-tia/
3.https://www.medicinenet.com/transient_ischemic…
4.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-ischemic-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20355679?p=1
Written by Burhan Fakhurji.