Ischemic attack - what is its cunning?

Attack is something fast, fast and short. So transient ischemic attack of the brain (TIA) is a sudden, short-term disorder of cerebral circulation.

It is also called a mini-stroke because of the similarity of symptoms and manifestations, however, unlike a stroke, an ischemic attack is short-lived, it is mostly observed for not more than an hour and does not lead to irreversible brain damage. All neurological functions are restored no longer than one day, and sometimes the patient may even think that he had some fleeting disorder that passed without a trace. And this is a major mistake, which can even become fatal afterwards. Ischemic attack - this is serious, because in case of its recurrence, it can turn into a stroke. Therefore, the TIA - not the case when you can say: "It was done - and thank God!". Appeal to doctors is necessary, and their task, I must say, is very difficult, it is true to diagnose the disease and prescribe a treatment.

The insidiousness of this disease is transience. To one of the parts of the brain, the flow of blood temporarily stops, but the blockage of the vessel quickly disintegrates, and the patient returns to its normal state. "Transitorius" in Latin - "passing", hence the "transient ischemic attack." Symptoms suddenly appear and quickly disappear, so that by the time of the medical examination the clinical picture is smeared, and this makes diagnosis difficult. Therefore, the story of the patient himself about the sensations and the information obtained from people who witnessed the attack of the disease is of particular importance.

Ischemic attack is not in vain compared with stroke - the signs are very similar. It can be dizziness and loss of coordination, a slow reaction, a temporary loss of memory with an inability to recognize surrounding objects and people, problems with vision and speech, muscle weakness or numbness on one side of the body. In case the attacks are repeated, there is already a sharp paralysis, blindness to one or both eyes, difficulty swallowing and indiscriminate speech. But, we repeat, usually the majority of these symptoms disappeared without a trace after an hour, so the patient should be placed in a medical institution, a full examination, tests and tests that exclude a stroke.

The subsequent treatment is necessary even in the event that any complications are excluded and no symptoms and consequences are observed. Its purpose is to prevent repeated TIA and stroke. It can be medicamentous, with the appointment of antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, drugs that reduce cholesterol. Perhaps, the doctor deems it necessary to prescribe a surgical intervention, if the carotid artery is narrowed due to fat deposits . Another option is angioplasty, which is used to uncover a blocked artery.

Postponed ischemic attack is also, of course, an occasion to take care of your health. After all, about ten percent of people who had TIA had a stroke within three months. And every subsequent ischemic attack can be more severe and, ultimately, again, it can turn into a stroke. You should be aware that the risk of TIA increases excess weight, improper diet with a predominance of fats and salts, low physical activity and bad habits. With age, the elasticity of the arterial walls decreases, which also increases the likelihood of developing ischemic attack. Additional risk factors are such diseases as hypertension, diabetes, peripheral and carotid artery diseases, and any cardiovascular disease.

So, your body repulsed the attack, but now you have to help strengthen the defenses. Follow the doctor's prescriptions, stick to a healthy diet, lead a healthy lifestyle - and then the TIA will remain for you only a fleeting unpleasant memory.