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Transient Ischaemic Attack

Warning Signs of Stroke:

A stroke may be caused by (a) blockage of a blood vessel within the brain (cerebral infarction), (b) rupture of a blood vessel within the brain (cerebral haemorrhage), or (c) rupture of a blood vessel into the space surrounding the brain

(subarachnoid haemorrhage).About 50% of patients who subsequently have a stroke due to blockage of a blood vessel have a small warning episode termed a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).In 75% of TIAs the symptoms clear within one hour, often within only a few minutes, because the blockage in the artery clears itself very quickly. 30% of people have damage evident on sensitive brain imaging techniques such as MRI after a TIA.

TIAs are significant and must not be ignored. Advice must be sought immediately. A TIA may be the start of a stroke that can follow the TIA within hours. TIAs can warn of a future stroke. Treatment can reduce the risk of having a stroke.

Symptoms of Transient Ischaemic Attacks - Warning Strokes

FLEETING BLINDNESS OR BLURRING OF VISION
In one or both eyes, lasting for a few seconds or minutes only, like a curtain descending or ascending from above or below, very occasionally crossing from one side to the other.
DOUBLE VISION: Objects may suddenly appear to be double horizontally or vertically, may be more marked when looking in one direction.OTHER VISUAL DISTURBANCES Such as difficulty seeing one or other of the visual fields to the left or right.

SPEECH DISTURBANCE
Such as impaired expression of speech, knowing what one wishes to say but being unable to say it, using words of a similar type with different meanings. SLURRING OF SPEECH Often with an accompanying sensation that the tongue is moving clumsily or 'thick'.

FACIAL NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS
Usually in conjunction with slurring of speech., SWALLOWING DIFFICULTY
Occasionally this may accompany slurring of speech.

WEAKNESS OR PARALYSIS OF FACE, ARM OR LEG
A brief episode of weakness or clumsiness affecting face, arm or leg separately or in combination- a typical case is weakness affecting the right arm or leg together with speech disturbance, resulting in an object being dropped, the limb feeling heavy or even numb or tingling. Sometimes there is a profound weakness and inability to move limbs