Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a mild form of ischemic cerebral stroke or “mini-stroke,” which occurs when the cerebral circulation is partially impaired by the presence of narrowing or occlusion of a cerebral artery or the carotid arteries (major arteries that carry blood to the brain), preventing an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients (particularly glucose) to nerve cells for a limited period of time.
Like cerebral stroke, TIA also represents a medical emergency, which should be immediately referred to the attention of the physician and/or emergency medical services (118, ER), but its effects are generally milder and fully reversible.
TIA is an important warning sign that cerebral blood circulation is suboptimal and that it is necessary to investigate the situation further and to undertake or refine targeted preventive therapies on an individualized basis to avoid further more severe and disabling, as well as potentially life-threatening, cerebral ischemic events.
In the absence of preventive treatment, about one-third of people who experience a TIA subsequently go on to have a stroke, and in about half of the cases, this occurs after one year.
