Tia Stroke
It must be noted that people who have had a TIA stroke have increased risks for strokes that, in turn, kill more than 140,000 individuals yearly in the United States alone.Looking at the statistics, a quarter of the individuals who suffered from a transient ischemic attack (TIA) will die within a year, most of which are from full-blown strokes. Prelude to a Stoke Because its symptoms are similar to a stroke, TIA episodes are also called mini-strokes. The duration and the damage, however, differ as a mini-stroke will only last for a few minutes and cause no permanent damage. But as can be seen later, you should not dismiss a TIA episode as it can be a prelude to a stroke within 30 to 90 days, if and when left unchecked by a medical professional. The 30 to 90 day period is when the risks for a full-blown stroke are the highest. Take note that one in three individuals will eventually suffer from a stroke within a year after the TIA stroke. Indeed, you should adopt the attitude of opportunism in the sense that a TIA episode is an opportunity to adopt certain lifestyle changes and seek treatment - grab it while you have the time on Earth. But that's getting ahead of the story. Warning Signs As previously mentioned, a TIA episode will only last for a few minutes with the majority of the symptoms disappearing within an hour. Said symptoms include: * Sudden numbness or weakness and even paralysis on one side of your face, arm or legs. * Difficulty in speaking even the simplest words and understanding others * Double vision and, in many cases, sudden blindness in one or two eyes * Dizziness accompanied with or without loss of coordination The sad thing about a Tia stroke is that you can have more than one episode with different combination of symptoms depending on the part if the brain affected. If your symptoms last for more than 24 hours, however, you just had a stroke. Opportunities for Lifestyle Changes There are some risk factors beyond your control, which include family history, being 55 years of age, being a male of the species, and being black. There are no sexist or racist insinuations here since long-term medical studies were conducted on the subject. The good news is that there are risk factors that you can control, which you should take the necessary measures to protect yourself against today. Said measures include stop cigarette smoking; limit fat, cholesterol, sodium and alcohol intake; manage weight through regular exercise and healthy diet; and control diabetes, if you have it. Available Treatment Options Also, doctors play a significant role in lessening the chances of a full-blown stroke after a TIA stroke. Medications for this purpose include anti-platelet drugs and anticoagulants while surgical options include carotid endarterectomy and carotid angioplasty. You have to discuss these options with your doctor as each case of TIA episode varies from one individual to the next as well as within the individual himself. The best way to avoid the complications of TIA episodes is to live a healthy lifestyle, visit your doctor for regular check-ups and be aware of the symptoms of a mini-stroke. Prevention and prompt treatment are keys to surviving a TIA stroke.
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