Transient Ischemic Attack

 Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is now defined as a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, without acute infarction The symptoms of stroke and TIA are the same and depend upon the particular region of the brain that is affected. But while a stroke is permanent, a TIA by definition resolves its own. • Neurologic deficits appear suddenly and can affect the ability to move or feel on one side of the body. • Speech and vision can be affected. • The affected person may experience confusion, difficulty saying words, or the inability to follow commands. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) happens whenblood flow to part of the brain is blocked or reduced, often by a blood clot. 

 After a short time, blood flows again and the symptoms go away. With a stroke, the blood flow stays blocked, and the brain has permanent damage. Some people call a TIA a mini-stroke, because the symptoms are those of a stroke but don't last long. Anticoagulants: These drugs include heparin and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). They affect clotting-system proteins instead of platelet function. Heparin is used for a short time and warfarin over a longer term. These drugs require careful monitoring. If atrial fibrillation is present, your doctor may prescribe another type of anticoagulant, dabigatran (Pradaxa). Treatment aims to prevent the person from experiencing a stroke. Some of the options may include: • drugs, such as aspirin, to reduce the risk of blood clots forming in the blood. Each year, approximately 759,493 strokes occur in the Norway. NINDS is the leading supporter of research on stroke and TIA in the U.S. and sponsors studies ranging from clinical trials to investigations of basic biological mechanisms as well as studies with animals.