Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A transient ischemic attack is like a temporary stroke. It means there’s a temporary (transient) lack of blood flow to part of your brain. Without blood flow, the brain cells malfunction and start to die (ischemia).

Often shortened to TIA, a transient ischemic attack is a medical emergency that’s very similar to an ischemic stroke. The symptoms of the two are the same, but TIA symptoms go away within 24 hours (most go away in minutes).

IMPORTANT: A transient ischemic attack is a medical emergency just like a stroke is. That’s because there’s no way to predict how long a TIA will last, and every minute counts. Seek immediate medical help if you have signs of stroke, including balance issues, vision changes, face and arm drooping, and speech difficulties.

If you or someone you’re with has TIA or stroke symptoms, you should immediately call 911 (or the local emergency services number in your area). Don’t wait to see if the symptoms will subside, and don’t avoid calling if the symptoms get better after a few minutes of resting. A TIA can be the precursor to a stroke, so get medical attention right away!

TIA vs. mini-stroke — which is the correct name?

A common nickname for TIAs is “mini-strokes.” But that’s not an accurate name. A TIA isn’t necessarily “mini” or smaller, and TIAs can easily affect large brain areas. Importantly, a stroke may occur after a TIA, within a matter of minutes, hours or days.

There are also two critical differences between strokes and TIAs. The first is that a TIA stops on its own. A stroke doesn’t, and it needs treatment to stop and reverse the effects. A stroke also leaves behind evidence on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The changes remain even if your symptoms go away.