Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: TIA Recognition
• Part 2 of 2: Preventing Stroke After TIA
• Tips
• Warnings
• Similar articles

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a "microstroke" in which blood circulation in the brain is temporarily impaired. TIA resembles a stroke in its features, except that TIA symptoms last from a few minutes to an hour. However, this does not detract from the severity of the TIA, as it increases the risk of stroke or heart attack. To prevent stroke after TIA, you should make appropriate lifestyle changes and see your doctor regularly to help you develop a treatment plan.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: TIA Recognition

1. 1 Determine the severity of the attack. Both TIA and stroke require immediate medical attention. Despite the fact that TIA resolves on its own, it is necessary to diagnose such an attack as early as possible and start treating it. Early diagnosis and early treatment can help reduce the risk of subsequent stroke, which can lead to more serious consequences.
   • During the first 90 days after TIA, the risk of stroke increases significantly and amounts to 17%.
2. 2 If you experience these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. TIA has the same symptoms as stroke. However, a TIA only lasts a few minutes and symptoms resolve on their own within about an hour, while a stroke requires skilled medical attention to recover. If you have a TIA, there is a high chance that you will experience a more serious stroke in the next few hours or days. Therefore, if symptoms of TIA / stroke occur, you should immediately seek emergency medical attention.
3. 3 Pay attention to sudden weakness in the limbs. With a TIA or stroke, people often lose coordination of movements, the ability to walk, or stand firmly on their feet. You may also lose the ability to keep your arms raised above your head. Often, these symptoms only appear on one side of the body.
   • With a TIA or stroke, coordination of movements is impaired, and it is difficult for a person to pick up small and large objects.
   • Try to write something to look for a possible fine motor disorder.
4. 4 Don't ignore a sudden, sharp headache. This symptom can be caused by two forms of apoplexy: ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. In ischemic stroke, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted due to a blockage in a blood vessel.Hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by a ruptured blood vessel and cerebral hemorrhage. In both cases, inflammation occurs in the brain. Inflammation and tissue death can lead to sudden and severe headaches.
5. 5 Note the change in vision. The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain. If a blood flow disorder or hemorrhage occurs near this nerve, then vision is impaired. In this case, double vision is possible, as well as loss of vision in one or both eyes.
6. 6 Pay attention to blurred consciousness and speech problems. These symptoms are associated with insufficient oxygen supply to those parts of the brain that control speech and thinking. With a TIA or stroke, people have difficulty speaking and understanding what others are saying. In addition, the patient may experience clouding of consciousness or panic due to the fact that he is not able to speak and understand someone else's speech.
7. 7 American doctors recommend remembering the acronym "FAST". This acronym is made up of the first letters of the English words face, arms, speech and time; it helps to remember and identify the symptoms of TIA and stroke. Early detection and treatment can often avoid serious consequences and save lives.
   • Face. Does the person's face look frozen and drooping? Ask him to smile to determine if one side of his face is immobilized.
   • Arms. Apoplexy often causes the victim to be unable to raise both arms equally above their head. In this case, one hand is lower, or a person cannot raise it at all.
   • Speech. Stroke often results in loss of speech and the ability to understand what others are saying. The victim may experience confusion or fear from a sudden loss of these abilities.
   • Time. TIA and stroke are an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Don't wait for the symptoms to go away on their own. Call the emergency room immediately. Every minute counts: the later you get help, the higher the likelihood of serious consequences.

Part 2 of 2: Preventing Stroke After TIA

1. 1 Get a heart exam. After a TIA, your doctor should immediately assess possible heart problems to determine if you are at risk of a stroke. Atrial fibrillation (atrial fibrillation) is one of the factors that most often lead to stroke. This condition is characterized by an irregular and rapid heartbeat. At the same time, patients often experience weakness, they have difficulty breathing due to insufficient blood circulation.
2. 2 Talk to your doctor about taking preventive medications. If you have an abnormal heart rhythm after a TIA, this indicates an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to a stroke. Your doctor may recommend that you take an anticoagulant such as Warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin for an extended period to help prevent blood clots. For the same purpose, you may also be prescribed antiplatelet drugs such as Plavix, Tiklid or Aggrenox.
3. 3 Your doctor may recommend surgery. In certain cases, doctors recommend surgery to reduce the risk of a stroke. At the same time, using the methods of visual diagnostics, specialists will determine exactly where the blood flow is blocked. The following operations are possible:
   • Endarterectomy or angioplasty to unblock blocked carotid arteries
   • Intra-arterial thrombolysis to break up small blood clots in the brain
4. 4 Maintain normal blood pressure (BP). High BP increases pressure on the walls of the arteries, which in turn can cause blood to leak or rupture from the arteries and lead to stroke. The doctor will prescribe medications to normalize your blood pressure, when taking which you should follow the doctor's instructions or instructions for use.The doctor will also order regular check-ups to make sure that the drugs are being taken. In addition to drug treatment, the following lifestyle changes will help lower CD:
   • Reduced stress. The hormones released during stress increase blood pressure.
   • Normal sleep. Sleep at least eight hours a night. Lack of sleep leads to an increase in the level of stress hormones, which negatively affects the neurological state of the body and increases the risk of gaining excess weight.
   • Lose excess weight. With excess weight, the heart has to work harder, which increases the CD.
   • Limit your alcohol intake. Excess alcohol damages the liver, which leads to an increase in blood pressure.
5. 5 Monitor your blood glucose levels. If you have diabetes mellitus or if your blood glucose is high for any other reason, it can damage the smallest blood vessels (microvessels) and kidneys. Healthy kidney function is important for maintaining normal blood pressure. Correct treatment of diabetes mellitus will help improve kidney health, which will lower BP and reduce the risk of stroke.
6. 6 Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk of stroke for both smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke. It thickens the blood and promotes the formation of plaque and blood clots in the arteries. Talk to your doctor about methods and medications to help you quit this bad habit. You can also join a quit smoking support group.
   • Do not reproach yourself if you smoke a couple of cigarettes before finally quitting smoking.
   • Strive for your goal and don't give up until you reach it.
7. 7 Keep track of your weight. With obesity, the body mass index (BMI) exceeds 31. Obesity is an independent risk factor that increases the likelihood of heart disease, including congestive heart failure, premature death, and high blood pressure. Although obesity is not an independent risk factor for stroke or TIA, it is associated with other risk factors for these diseases. Thus, although obesity does not directly lead to stroke, there is an unambiguous (albeit indirect) link between it and stroke.
8. 8 Regularly exercise as recommended by your doctor. If your doctor thinks that you are not yet ready for sports, do not overload your heart to avoid a stroke or injury. However, if your doctor permits you to do these activities, you should devote at least 30 minutes a day to them. Exercise has been shown to reduce risk factors for stroke and decrease the likelihood of stroke.
   • Aerobic exercise such as jogging, walking, and swimming can help lower blood pressure. Avoid strenuous activity (lifting weights, running briskly), which can lead to a sharp rise in blood pressure.
9. 9 When taking medication, follow the directions. You may have to take some medications for the rest of your life. You may not feel like you have high blood pressure or need to take an antiplatelet drug. In no case should you stop taking prescribed medications just because you “feel fine” at the moment. Trust your doctor to monitor your blood pressure and blood clotting regularly. The doctor will be able to determine whether you should continue to take this or that drug - do not be guided only by your subjective feelings.

Tips

• Take your prescribed medications regularly and as directed. Never stop taking medication without first talking to your doctor. Many drugs require gradual discontinuation or negative side effects may occur.Talk to your doctor for advice on the best course of action.
• Try to make lifestyle changes to minimize the risk of a serious stroke after a TIA.

Warnings

• TIA is an emergency that requires urgent medical attention. Seek immediate medical attention - early treatment will help reduce your risk of stroke.

Similar articles

• How to raise blood pressure
• How to lower blood pressure overnight
• How to raise low blood pressure
• How to relieve sudden chest pain
• How to tell when pain in the left arm is related to the heart
• How to improve blood circulation
• How to quickly lower blood pressure
• How to improve blood circulation in your legs
• How to give artificial respiration to an adult
• How to lower blood pressure without medication