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Transient Ischemic Attack
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke, starts
just like a stroke but then resolves leaving no noticeable symptoms or deficits. The
occurrence of a TIA is a warning that the person is at risk for a more serious and
debilitating stroke. Of the approximately 50,000 Americans who have a TIA each year, about
one-third will have an acute stroke sometime in the future. The addition of other
risk factors compounds a persons risk for a recurrent stroke. The average duration
of a TIA is a few minutes. For almost all TIAs, the symptoms go away within an hour. There
is no way to tell whether symptoms will be just a TIA or persist and lead to death or
disability. The patient should assume that all stroke symptoms signal an emergency and
should not wait to see if they go away.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
NIH Publication No. 99-2222