A TIA is a stroke that lasts only for a few moments just like a few minutes. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked the brief. Symptoms of transient ischemic attacks are like other stroke symptoms but do not last as long.

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It can be often a warning sign for future strokes. Medicines, like blood thinners, may reduce your risk of a stroke. Your doctor suggests you get surgery. A healthy lifestyle can also help you to lower your risk. Such a lifestyle includes not smoking, not drinking too much, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. It is also important to control other health problems, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Symptoms of Transient Ischemic Attacks

Transient ischemic attacks usually stay for a few minutes. Most of the symptoms of transient ischemic attacks disappear within an hour or maximum within 24 hours. The symptoms of transient ischemic attacks similar to the early stroke and they happen suddenly and include:

• Weakness, numbness, or paralysis in your face, typically on one side of your body

• Confusion or trouble speaking or difficulty understanding others

• Vision problem in one or both eyes or double vision

• Dizziness

• Loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden, severe headache

• Trouble swallowing

Symptoms of transient heart attacks are many times a warning sign for later strokes. Taking medicine, such as blood thinners, may decrease the risk of a stroke. Your doctor may recommend surgery. You can also reduce the risk of future stroke by having a healthy lifestyle. It involves not smoking, not drinking too much, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol can also help to reduce the risk of TIA.

Risk Factors That Enhances the Chances of TIA

Along with the symptoms of transient heart attacks, one should know the risk factors of the same. These can also be categories into two categories. The one you can control or change accordingly and the other you cannot change.

Risk Factors That You Can Control

1. Health Conditions

There are some prior health conditions that can increase the risk of TIA and can convert the symptoms of transient heart attacks into stroke.

a) High blood pressure- The risk of a stroke also increases if BP reached higher than 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). By controlling your blood pressure by taking some medicines or changes in diet you can reduce the risk of stroke well.

b) High cholesterol- You can control your cholesterol by eating less cholesterol and less fast food, especially saturated fat and trans fat. Your doctor may prescribe a statin or another type of cholesterol-lowering medication.

c) Peripheral artery disease (PAD)- The blood vessels that supply blood to your arms and legs become blocked.

d) Cardiovascular disease- This includes heart failure, a heart defect, a heart infection, or an abnormal heartbeat.

e) Excess weight- A BMI of 25 or higher and a waist circumference greater than 35 inches in women or 40 inches in men increases the risk.

f) High levels of homocysteine- Elevated levels of this amino acid in your blood can cause your arteries to thicken and scar, which makes them more susceptible to clots.

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2. Lifestyle Choices

lifestyle choices make lots of differences in your well-being. It can also help to control the symptoms of transient heart attacks.

a) Cigarette smoking- Smoking increases the risk of blood clots, raises your blood pressure, and increases cholesterol-containing fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis).

b) Physical inactivity- Including 30 min of regular exercise may reduce the risk of TIA.

c) Poor nutrition- Not including proper nutrients in the diet may increase the risk of a TIA and a stroke.

d) Heavy drinking- If you drink alcohol beyond the limit (more than two drink for man and more than one drink for women) may increase the risk.

e) Use of contraceptives pills- All oral birth control pills increase the risk of a stroke but some of them may be riskier than others. So, before taking these pills once talk to your doctor about how the hormones may affect your risk of a TIA and a stroke.

Risk Factors That You Cannot Control

You can’t change the following risk factors for a ministroke and stroke.

a) Family history- If you have a family history of TIA it increases the risk of TIA for yourself as well.

b) Age- The risk increases by the age, especially after age 55.

c) Sex- Men are at a slightly higher risk side of a TIA and a stroke.

d) Prior transient ischemic attack- If you’ve had repetitive TIA, you’re 10 times more likely to have a stroke.

e) Sickle cell disease- Also known as sickle cell anemia, Sickle-shaped blood cells carry less oxygen and also tend to get stuck in artery walls, hampering blood flow to the brain.

f) Race- Black people are at greater risk of dying of a stroke, partly because of the higher prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes among blacks.

Above we have discussed the symptoms of transient heart attacks and the risk factor that can increase the chances of stroke. we should take care of all the aspects that can increase the chances of stroke and try to avoid them.

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