Patient information Page Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Your GP or health professional suspects that you may have experienced a TIA, you may be referred urgently to a consultant who specializes in strokes for further testing or to a specialist or TIA clinic where you will be seen within seven days of your TIA occurring. What is a TIA? A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or 'mini-stroke', is caused by a temporary fall in the blood supply to part of the brain, leading to a lack of oxygen to the brain. This can cause symptoms that are similar to a stroke, although they do not last as long. A TIA lasts only a few minutes and symptoms are usually resolved within 24 hours. The main signs and symptoms of a TIA can be remembered by the word FAST: Face-ArmsSpeech-Time: Face. The face may have fallen on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped. Arms. The person with suspected stroke may not be able to raise both arms and keep them there, due to arm weakness or numbness. Speech. There may be slurred speech. Time. It is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms. If signs and symptoms last longer than 24 hours, it is regarded as a full stroke. How common are TIAs? It's difficult to know exactly how common TIAs are, as many people who have TIA symptoms do not seek medical help. Approximately one person per 1,000 in the population is thought to suffer a TIA each year. This means more than 50,000 TIAs occur in England per year. TIA is a medical emergency If you have the symptoms of a further TIA, seek medical attention urgently. TIAs are a warning sign that further TIAs, or a full stroke, may occur soon. Without treatment, there is a one in 10 chance that you will have a full stroke within four weeks of having a TIA. A stroke is a serious condition and can cause permanent disability. As TIAs are serious, it is important that they are always investigated so that appropriate treatment can be given quickly. With treatment, the risk of a further TIA or a full stroke can be greatly reduced.
What do you need to do now? 1. Your doctor has given you tablets today to prevent stroke and this may be changed or stopped in the TIA clinic depending upon results. Please take these tablets. 2. Your doctor will ask you to stop driving until assessed by stroke team. 3. Please call 999 if any recurrence while waiting for clinic (see FAST message above). 4. Your doctor may do some blood tests and an ECG, you may be given a copy of the ECG to bring to the TIA clinic. 5. You should expect a call on the phone number you have provided within 7 days if low risk and may need admission if high risk. 6. If anyone has witnessed the episode please ask them to attend the TIA clinic as well. 7. Please bring your current prescription to TIA clinic.
Management checklist for professionals for suspected TIA. 1
Start Aspirin 300 mg (or Clopidogrel 300 mg stat then 75mg daily if allergic to aspirin) immediately.
2
Start Simvastatin 40 mg if not on statin.
3
Ask pts to stop driving until assessed by stroke team.
4
If low risk arrange blood tests – FBC, U&E,LFT, Glucose and Cholesterol and forward to stroke contact if not on ICE.
5
If low risk Please do ECG and give ECG copy to patient.
6
Tell patient to expect a call within 7 days if low risk and explain admission if high risk.
7
Advise pts to call 999 if any recurrence while waiting for clinic (FAST leaflet)
8
Send last prescription copy with patient.
9
If anyone has witnessed the episode please ask them to attend clinic as well.
ABCD² Risk Score Low
High
Risk of further Stroke 1% at 2 days 1.2% at 7 days 3.1% at 90 days 8.1% at 2 days 11.7% at 7 days 17.8% at 90 days
