Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Exams and Tests
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Immediate evaluation is recommended if you have had or are having a transient ischemic attack (TIA). The purpose of evaluation is to:
- Check for another cause of your symptoms, such as a stroke, low blood sugar (if you have diabetes), or Bell's palsy.
- Look for a blood clot.
- Find out whether you need surgery to reopen a blocked artery (carotid endarterectomy).
- Find out whether you need medicines to prevent blood clots.
If your TIA symptoms have completely disappeared, the results of a physical exam will be normal, and the diagnosis of a TIA usually will be based on your medical history and certain tests.
If a TIA is suspected, the doctor may want to do tests, such as a:
- CT scan of the head, to check for bleeding in the brain when symptoms of a TIA are occurring and to check for evidence of a stroke or other disease, such as a tumor.
- MRI scan, to check for damage to the brain from a stroke.
Further tests are often done to identify the cause of the TIA. If blockage of the carotid arteries is suspected, you may have tests such as:
- A Doppler ultrasound.
- A
magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA). See a picture of
a TIA angiogram
. - An angiogram of your head and neck.
TIA symptoms may be due to blood clots caused by a heart problem. If heart problems are suspected, you may have tests such as a:
- Chest X-ray to assess the size and shape of your heart.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) or Holter monitoring or ambulatory EKG to assess heart rhythm.
- Echocardiogram (echo) to examine the shape of the heart chambers and blood flow through them.
- Cholesterol and triglycerides tests to check the level of these blood fats that can increase your risk for blood clots and hardening of the arteries.
You may have other blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC), chemistry screen, and prothrombin time based on your age and medical history. Your doctor will use these tests to look for other causes of the TIA.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 31, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Richard D. Zorowitz, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Welcome to Care Circle, an exclusive tool to help you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Here's how it works:
- Create profiles for yourself and your loved ones.
- Select the topics and conditions that interest each of you.
- Get customized news updates, original content, tools, and expert advice for each Care Circle member delivered directly to your personalized homepage.
The information you input is strictly private; you choose who has access to your Care Circle.
How do I add myself or someone else to my care circle?
Click on "Add someone." Fill out the short profile. Choose an avatar. Select the topics and conditions that interest this person from the pulldown menu. You can select as many as you want, but you must choose at least one. Click on "Add Someone" again. You should start getting updates immediately.
How do I save content to my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab of the person for whom you're saving content. Put your cursor over the piece of content that you want to save; a disk icon will appear in the righthand corner. Click on the disk and the piece of content will be moved to a save folder.
How do I add additional topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Add More to Follow," select additional topics and conditions.
How do I delete topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Follows," scroll over the topic or condition you want to delete. An "X" should appear on the righthand side. Click on the "X" and the topic or condition will be deleted from the list.
To manage your Care Circle, Please
Sign In.
