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Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Treatment Overview
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
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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
If you have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), you will probably need to take a medicine to help prevent blood clots. If the carotid arteries in your neck are significantly blocked, you may also need to have surgery to reopen the narrowed arteries. Also, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, you will also need treatment for those diseases.
Initial treatment
If you have symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), seek medical help immediately. If you had symptoms of a TIA but you feel better now, you still need to see a doctor right away. A TIA is a sign that a stroke may soon follow, and prompt medical treatment may prevent a stroke. After a TIA, 3 to 17 out of 100 people will have a stroke within 90 days. The risk of stroke is highest in the first 30 days after a TIA. And of the people who have a stroke after a TIA, half have a stroke less than 48 hours after the TIA.1
You will need to take medicine that will reduce the risk of future blood clots. These medicines may include aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole with aspirin, or warfarin.
If your carotid arteries are significantly blocked, you may need surgery to reopen the narrowed arteries (carotid endarterectomy). For more information about this surgery, see:
Ongoing treatment
Ongoing treatment will focus on preventing another transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke and reducing additional risk factors for stroke. This may include:
- Reducing high blood pressure, the most common risk factor for stroke, by making changes to your diet and taking blood pressure–lowering medicines.
- Taking aspirin or another antiplatelet medicine to prevent strokes. It has been shown that people who have had a stroke, a TIA, or an endarterectomy may benefit from taking aspirin or another antiplatelet medicine, such as aspirin with extended-release dipyridamole, daily to prevent another stroke.
- Taking an anticoagulant medicine, which is commonly called a blood thinner, if you have atrial fibrillation.
- Taking statins. Statins can reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had a TIA. Statins even protect against stroke in people who do not have heart disease or high cholesterol.2
- Controlling diabetes. Your doctor will advise that you try to keep your blood sugar levels in a target range. To do this, you may need to take oral medicines or insulin. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise will also help.
- Getting a flu shot every year to help you avoid getting sick from the flu.
You may also need to make lifestyle changes such as:
- Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke. People who smoke have a higher risk of stroke than those who quit. Stop-smoking programs, medicines, and counseling can boost your chances of quitting for good.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of developing high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes, which are risk factors for TIA and stroke.
- Eating a balanced diet that is low in cholesterol, saturated fats, and salt. Fatty foods may make hardening of the arteries worse. Increase fruits and vegetables in your diet. For more information, see:
- Getting regular exercise. Physical activity significantly lowers your risk of stroke. Do activities that raise your heart rate. Try to do moderate activity, such as brisk walking, at least 2½ hours a week. One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. It's fine to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week.
- Limiting alcohol. If
you drink alcohol, drink moderately. Moderate drinking is 2
drinks
a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.
Excessive use of alcohol can
raise your risk of stroke.
If you take an anticoagulant, also called a blood thinner, you need to take extra steps to avoid bleeding problems, such as preventing falls and injuries. If you take warfarin, you also need to get regular blood tests and watch how much vitamin K you eat or drink. For more information about safety with warfarin, see:
Treatment if the condition gets worse
If you have more than one transient ischemic attack (TIA) close together (a cluster of TIAs), you may be hospitalized because of the increased risk for stroke.
Emergency treatment for stroke is most effective when it is given right away after symptoms begin.
For more information, see the topic Stroke.
What To Think About
After you have an initial evaluation for a TIA, you may need further testing and treatment on an outpatient basis. But because of the increased risk of stroke, staying in the hospital may be recommended for:
- People who have had more than one TIA close together (a cluster of TIAs).
- People who have had TIAs because of a heart condition, such as atrial fibrillation.
- Those who have symptoms that indicate that a large area of the brain is affected.
- Those whose symptoms last longer than an hour.
- Older adults and those with significant risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
| 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.
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