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Transient Ischaemic Attack

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) causes symptoms similar to a stroke. Some people call a TIA a
mini-stroke. With a TIA, the symptoms go completely within 24 hours (whilst with a stroke, the
symptoms are usually more permanent). The most common cause is a tiny blood clot in a blood
vessel in the brain.
Call 999 if you have symptoms of a stroke or TIA - act F.A.S.T. Unless the symptoms get better within
a few minutes you need emergency treatment, as the cause might be a stroke rather than a TIA.
It is important that you don't wait too long to see if the symptoms get better on their own. If your
symptoms have got better quickly and completely, you need to arrange to see your GP urgently, for
further investigations and treatment.

What is a transient ischaemic attack?

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a set of symptoms that lasts a short time and occurs because of a
temporary lack of blood to part of the brain. It is sometimes called a mini-stroke. However, unlike a stroke, the
symptoms are short-lived and soon go. This means that you recover fully, back to normal. (The word ischaemic
means a reduced supply of blood and oxygen to a part of the body.)

What is the cause of a transient ischaemic attack?

In most cases, a TIA is caused by a tiny blood clot that becomes stuck in a small blood vessel (artery) in the
brain. This blocks the blood flow, and a part of the brain is starved of oxygen. The affected part of the brain is
without oxygen for just a few minutes, and soon recovers. This is because the blood clot either breaks up quickly,
or nearby blood vessels are able to compensate.
(There are other uncommon causes of a TIA. These include:
Blood clotting problems.
Tiny bleeds into the brain.
Blood disorders such as polycythaemia and sickle cell anaemia where the blood is very thick.
Spasm of a small artery in the brain.
Other uncommon problems of the brain or its blood vessels.
These are not dealt with further in this leaflet.)

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Where does a blood clot come from to cause a transient ischaemic

attack?

The common site for a small blood clot to form is on a patch of atheroma in a main artery in the neck. (Atheroma
is explained below.) The carotid and vertebral arteries are the main arteries in the neck which take blood to the
brain. Either the small blood clot may break off from the atheroma, or a tiny part of the blood clot may break off.
This is then carried in the bloodstream, towards the brain. The arteries get progressively narrower and the clot
travels until it becomes stuck. When it becomes stuck, it blocks the artery and stops the blood supply.
In some cases a small clot forms in a heart chamber and is carried in the bloodstream to the brain. This can
happen with a condition called atrial fibrillation - often known by many people as an irregular heartbeat. (See
separate leaflet called Atrial Fibrillation for more information.)
A small blood clot is likely to break up quickly when it gets stuck. Therefore, no permanent damage is done to the
brain during a TIA, and symptoms soon go.
A stroke occurs when part of the brain tissue dies (permanent brain damage) due to a lack of oxygen. Oxygen is
needed for cells in the body to live and work. The blood carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues (such as the
brain). The most common type of stroke happens when the blood supply to that part of the brain is suddenly, and
completely, cut off by a blood clot (an ischaemic stroke). It happens in the same way as a TIA, the difference
being that the blockage is permanent. (See separate leaflet called Stroke for more information.)

Why does a blood clot form in a blood vessel or heart chamber?

A blood clot can form if platelets stick to a patch (plaque) of atheroma.
Platelets are tiny particles in the blood which help the blood to clot when a blood vessel (an artery or
vein) is cut.
Atheroma plaques are like fatty lumps that develop within the inside lining of arteries (a bit like the
furring up with scale that occurs inside your kettle).
Platelets sometimes stick on to an atheroma plaque inside an artery and form a clot.
A common site for atheroma to develop, and a blood clot to form, is in a large artery in the neck. A blood clot may
also form as a complication of some heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation.

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What are the symptoms of a transient ischaemic attack?

Symptoms of a TIA are temporary (transient). They develop suddenly, and usually peak in less than a minute. The
duration of symptoms varies, but symptoms usually go within an hour (typically within 2-15 minutes). Sometimes
symptoms last up to 24 hours. The symptoms that develop depend on which part of the brain is affected.
Different parts of the brain control different parts of the body. Therefore, symptoms may include one or more of
the following:
Weakness or clumsiness of a hand, arm, or leg.
Difficulties with speech.
Difficulties with swallowing.
Numbness or pins and needles of a part of the body.
Brief loss of vision, or double vision.

Note: headache is NOT a typical feature of a TIA (or a stroke).

A quick guide for the general public to remember - act F.A.S.T.

Both a stroke and a TIA are medical emergencies and need immediate medical attention. As a way of helping the
general public become more aware of the symptoms of a stroke or TIA, a simple symptom checklist to
remember has been devised and publicised. This is to think of the word FAST. That is:

F - Facial weakness. Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
A - Arm weakness. Can the person raise both arms and keep them there?
S - Speech disturbance. Is their speech slurred?
T - Time. Time to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs.
The aim is to get people to think of stroke and TIAas emergencies. So, rather like a heart attack, they
are thought of as brain attacks. The FAST checklist does not cover every possible symptom of stroke or TIA.
However, it is easy to remember. It is estimated that about 8 or 9 in 10 people with a stroke or TIA will have one or
more FAST symptoms.

If you have symptoms of a stroke, you need to be seen in a hospital immediately (even if you later turn out
to have a different problem, or a TIA).
Occasionally, there are exceptions to this rule. Generally, however, these are only in people who are already
extremely unwell or perhaps terminally ill. For those people, transfer to a hospital would not be in their best
interests.

How common is a transient ischaemic attack?

The exact number of cases is not known. This is because many people who have a TIA do not report it to their
doctor, as the symptoms go away. The importance of the symptoms is therefore not recognised. However, it is
estimated that a TIA occurs in about 35 per 100,000 people each year in the UK. About 1 in 5 people who have a
stroke have had a TIA in the past.

How serious is a transient ischaemic attack?

In itself, a TIA does no harm or permanent damage to the brain, and the symptoms soon go. However, a TIA
indicates that you have a tendency to form blood clots in your blood vessels or heart. Therefore, if you have a TIA
you have a higher-than-average risk of developing a larger blood clot which may cause a stroke or heart attack in
the future. (See separate leaflet called Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) for more information.)

Without treatment - about 1-2 in 10 people who have a TIA have a stroke within the following year.
This is much higher than the average risk of someone of the same age having a stroke who has not
had a TIA. The most risky time is within the first month following a TIA - which is why treatment is
advised as soon as possible after you have a TIA. Also, within a year of having a TIA, about 3 in 100
people have a heart attack (myocardial infarction) due to a blood clot in a blood vessel of the heart.

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With treatment - the above risks are reduced. For example, in one research study published in 2007,
the conclusion stated ... "Early initiation of existing treatments after TIA or minor stroke was associated
with an 80% reduction in the risk of early recurrent stroke."

Therefore, see your GP urgently if you suspect that you have had a TIA.
A scoring system is often used to assess your risk of stroke early after having a TIA. It scores things such as
your age, blood pressure and whether you have diabetes. It also looks at the symptoms you had and how long
they lasted for. People with a high score or who have repeated (recurrent) episodes of TIA are at the highest risk
of a stroke in the following 48 hours. This is especially the case if you have had two or more TIAs in the previous
week. In this situation, the TIAs can be thought of as the alarm bells, warning of an impending problem.
Admission to hospital is the best plan in these circumstances. Hospital admission is also advised if your
symptoms of TIA have happened and you are taking warfarin (see below for more information).
People with lower scores can usually be seen urgently in a specialist TIA clinic. Your GP can refer you to one of
these. Tests should be carried out quickly (within days of the TIA event) and treatment started promptly.

What tests are usual after a transient ischaemic attack?

After a suspected TIA, you will normally be advised to have several tests. Some of these will be done in a
hospital, and others can be done in your GP surgery. Where they happen depends on whether you have been
referred immediately (as an emergency) into hospital, or whether your GP is referring you to a TIA clinic.
The tests usually done are:
A scan of your brain. This will be either a CT scan or an MRI scan. This is done to make sure that you
have not had a stroke rather than a TIA. In a few cases, a stroke can occur with complete and quick
recovery. The scan is also done to make sure there are no other brain problems (for example, a brain
tumour) that may have given you symptoms that mimic a TIA. If you were already taking warfarin when
you had the symptoms of a TIA, you need an urgent brain scan to make sure that you haven't had a
bleed (haemorrhage) in the brain. This would be called a haemorrhagic stroke (or intracerebral bleed).
An ultrasound scan of your carotid arteries. This is to see if you have severe narrowing of one of these
arteries, caused by atheroma. Atheroma plaques are like fatty lumps that develop within the inside
lining of arteries. Narrowing (stenosis) of the carotid arteries is a risk factor for TIA and stroke.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) to check for abnormal heart rhythms such as an irregular heartbeat
(atrial fibrillation). This might be done at your GP surgery.
Blood tests. These might be done at your GP surgery. Your blood will be tested to make sure that you
don't have diabetes or high cholesterol (these are risk factors for TIA and stroke). It will also be tested
to make sure that you not lacking in iron (are anaemic) and do not have kidney problems. Other blood
tests are sometimes done, but these are the main important ones.
Blood pressure measurement. Although this is not strictly speaking a test, it is important that your
blood pressure should be checked. High blood pressure is a risk factor for TIA and stroke, and needs
to be treated.
The main aim of these tests is:
To check for any underlying problems that might have caused the TIA.
To check if you have a problem that increases your risk of blood clots forming.
To make sure that you haven't had a stroke rather than a TIA.

What is the treatment if you have a transient ischaemic attack?

The aim of treatment after a TIA is to reduce your risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or further TIAs. Aspects of
treatment include the following:
Medication to reduce the risk of blood clots forming.
To reduce any risk factors that you may have.
Surgery (but this is only suitable in some cases).

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Medication
Medication reduces the risk of further blood clots forming.

Antiplatelet medication
Platelets are tiny particles in the blood which help blood to clot. Antiplatelet medication is usually advised if you
have had a TIA. Antiplatelet medication reduces the stickiness of platelets. This helps to prevent blood clots
forming inside arteries, which helps to prevent a further TIA or a stroke.
Immediately after a TIA, you will probably be started on a daily dose of aspirin until your hospital investigations
have been completed. If you were already taking low-dose (75 mg) aspirin, you will usually be advised to continue
it at this dose.
Aspirin (low-dose) is the most commonly used long-term antiplatelet drug. If you are allergic to aspirin, or have
had bleeding problems such as a stomach ulcer, other antiplatelet drugs may be used. If you have had a stroke in
the past, and have now had a TIA, other antiplatelet drugs are usually used. These other drugs include clopidogrel
(Plavix or Grepid) and dipyridamole (Persantin, Persantin Retard and Asasantin Retard - which also
contains aspirin).
Sometimes medication to protect your stomach lining may be used alongside aspirin. This might be the case if
you get a lot of indigestion, especially with anti-inflammatory medicines (such as aspirin and ibuprofen). It may
also be the case if you are considered as being at high risk for stomach problems caused by aspirin.

Warfarin
Warfarin is usually advised if you have a TIA where the source of the blood clot is from your heart (usually if you
have the condition atrial fibrillation). Warfarin works by reducing some of the chemicals in the blood that are
needed to make blood clot (it is an anticoagulant). The aim is to get the dose just right so the blood is 'thinner'
than normal (less able to form clots), but not so much as to cause bleeding problems. Therefore, you need
regular blood tests if you take warfarin.

Reducing Risk Factors

To try to lessen the chances of having a TIA or stroke, it is important to reduce your risk factors. The risk factors
are the things that make the build-up of atheroma in blood vessels (arteries) happen more readily. Atheroma is a
bit like the scale that furs up the inside of your kettle. Atheroma increases your risk of having serious problems
such as TIA, stroke and heart attacks. The risk factors that can be changed are:

Smoking. If you smoke, you should make every effort to stop. The chemicals in tobacco are carried in
your bloodstream and can damage your arteries. If you smoke, stopping smoking can greatly cut your
risk of having a stroke (and also many other diseases such as heart attacks and lung cancer).
High blood pressure. Make sure your blood pressure is checked at least once a year. If it is high it
can be treated. High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms, but can be damaging to the
arteries. If you have high blood pressure, treatment of the blood pressure is likely to have the greatest
effect on reducing your risk of having a stroke. Even if your blood pressure is normal, you may be
considered for treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (such as perindopril)
and/or a thiazide medication (such as indapamide). If you have diabetes, tight blood pressure control
is essential.
If you are overweight or obese losing weight is advised. This can be achieved by eating fewer
calories, eating more healthily, and exercising more. If you are obese and you are finding it difficult to
lose weight through these lifestyle measures, it is worth discussing this further with your GP. Some
areas have weight loss programmes, some people benefit from seeing a dietician and others lose
weight by taking weight loss medication. In extreme cases, weight loss (bariatric) surgery may be
advised if all other methods have failed.
Ahigh cholesterol . High cholesterol levels can be lowered with medication, usually a statin. If you
have had a stroke, a statin should be started whether or not your cholesterol level is high. This is
because it reduces your overall risk of blood vessel (vascular) diseases - such as stroke, TIA and
heart attack. (See separate leaflets called Cholesterol and Statins and Other Lipid-lowering
Medicines for more information.)

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Inactivity. Lack of physical activity increases your risk of developing atheroma. You should aim to do
some moderate physical activity on most days of the week for at least 30 minutes. Examples of
suitable activities include brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing and gardening. It is important that
you get your heart rate up (racing pulse) and feel hot, out of breath (and possibly sweaty) as an
indicator that you are working hard enough. In general, the more vigorous the activity, the better.
Diet. You should aim to eat a healthy diet. Briefly, a healthy diet means:
AT LEAST five portions, or ideally 7-9 portions, of a variety of fruit and vegetables per day.
A THIRD OF MOST MEALS should be starch-based foods (such as cereals, wholegrain
bread, potatoes, rice, pasta), plus fruit and vegetables.
NOT MUCH fatty food such as fatty meats, cheeses, full-cream milk, fried food, butter, etc.
Use low-fat, mono-unsaturated or polyunsaturated spreads.
INCLUDE 2-3 portions of fish per week. At least one of these should be oily (such as
herring, mackerel, sardines, kippers, pilchards, salmon, or fresh tuna).
If you eat meat it is best to eat lean meat, or poultry such as chicken.
If you do fry, choose a vegetable oil such as sunflower, rapeseed or olive.
Try not to add salt to food, and limit foods which are salty.

Alcohol. Do not drink more than the recommended limits. That is, men should drink no more than 21
units of alcohol per week, no more than four units in any one day, and have at least two alcohol-free
days a week. Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, no more than three
units in any one day, and have at least two alcohol-free days a week. Pregnant women should not
drink at all. One unit is in about half a pint of normal-strength beer, or two thirds of a small glass of
wine, or one small pub measure of spirits.
Diabetes is a risk factor. If you have diabetes, treatment to keep your blood sugar as near normal as
possible is important.
(See separate leaflet called Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases for more information.)

Surgery
About 1 in 20 people with a TIA have severe narrowing of the carotid artery (carotid stenosis) due to a large buildup of atheroma. It might be suspected by listening with a stethoscope to the blood flow in your neck. Blood flow
through a narrowed artery is turbulent, and this causes a noise called a bruit (carotid bruit). There is a good
chance that you have significant narrowing of the carotid arteries if you have a carotid bruit. A type of ultrasound
scan of the neck (called a duplex ultrasound scan) can diagnose this narrowing accurately. There are also other
types of scans which can be done for the same reason.
Surgery to remove this narrowing caused by atheroma may be an option in some people. It depends on several
factors, such as:
How bad the narrowing is.
Whether you have had symptoms (such as a TIA or stroke).
What your general fitness is like (in terms of the risks of having major surgery).
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend that if you have a TIA, you should
have a scan of the carotid arteries within a week of the event, and be operated on within another week. Although
the best medical evidence suggests that urgent surgery prevents strokes, in reality this short timeframe for
surgery is not always achieved.
The main surgical procedure is called carotid endarterectomy (another procedure called carotid artery
angioplasty and stenting is sometimes used for blocked carotid arteries).
Endarterectomy is an open operation. This means the surgeon has to open up the artery (via a cut in the skin) to
remove the atheroma inside the artery. Angioplasty is a less invasive operation. Usually it is done by threading a
small wire up to the neck from a puncture in the groin (in the femoral artery). In simple terms, it is a bit like using a
pipe cleaner to clean and unblock a blocked pipe. A stent is a tiny mesh tube that folds up telescopically. It can be
inserted into the carotid artery to hold the walls of the artery open, and prevent blockage.

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A recent medical study showed that the angioplasty and stenting procedure leads to more short-term (within 30
days) complications, compared with carotid endarterectomy. The complications included stroke and death. At
present, only carotid endarterectomy is recommended after TIA or stroke. Further medical trials are being
performed comparing the two operations.
Successful surgery reduces the risk of a future stroke by about a half. However, like all operations, there is a
small risk from the operation itself. One of these risks is of causing a stroke. A specialist (vascular surgeon) will
advise on the pros and cons of the different operations if you are found to have severe narrowing of a carotid
artery.

Transient ischaemic attack and driving

If you've had, or currently have a medical condition or disability that may affect your driving you must tell the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA has a guide to the 'Medical Standards of Fitness to
Drive'. This includes a TIA.
Following a TIA you will have to stop driving for a specified period, often at least a month. This will depend on the
type of driving licence you have. The rules are different if you drive lorries or buses. So-called 'Group 2' drivers
have much higher medical standards to reach. Return to driving depends on a satisfactory recovery to normal or
minimal nerve (neurological) impairment. Every individual case is different. This is why is is important to get
advice directly from the DVLA (see below).
You should also contact your motor insurance company for advice.

Other advice
If you have had a TIA or stroke and plan to travel, you need to ensure that you have adequate medical cover on
your travel insurance. This will mean informing your insurer of your pre-existing medical conditions. Never
withhold medical information or fail to declare medical illnesses - if you do so, your insurance may be invalidated.
Invalid insurance leaves you open to having to pay full costs (often extremely high) if you need to seek medical
attention when abroad.

Further help & information

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
Third Floor, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5EZ
Tel: (Advice Line) 0845 077 6000, (General) 0131 225 6963
Web: www.chss.org.uk

Chest, Heart and Stroke Northern Ireland

21 Dublin Road, Belfast, BT2 7HB
Tel: 028 9032 0184
Web: www.nichsa.com

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Web: www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions

Stroke Association
Stroke Association House, 240 City Road, London, EC1V 2PR
Tel: (Helpline) 0303 303 3100, (General) 020 7566 0300
Web: www.stroke.org.uk

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Further reading & references

National clinical guidelines for stroke (fourth edition); Royal College of Physicians (2012)
Management of patients with stroke or TIA: assessment, investigation, immediate management and secondary
prevention; Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network - SIGN (December 2008)
Stroke and TIA; NICE CKS, February 2009

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical
conditions. EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its
accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
For details see our conditions.
Original Author:
Dr Tim Kenny

Current Version:
Dr Colin Tidy

Peer Reviewer:
Dr Adrian Bonsall

Document ID:
4443 (v42)

Last Checked:
14/03/2014

Next Review:
13/03/2017

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