Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Transient ischaemic attack

The Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is an early warning system telling you that more TIAs or a stroke are on their way. TIA is caused by a temporary interruption of the supply of blood to part of the brain creating a sort of mini stroke. The TIA is usually resolved by itself within 24 hours.

If this early warning is not taken seriously, and unfortunately that tend to be the case, it is very likely that a full scale stoke will take place. It is estimated that with proper treatment, the chance that the stroke will happen within a month is reduced by a factor of 10.

Our brain receives the supply of blood from two path. The main supply comes from the carotid arteries in front of the next and the secondary supply through the vertebral arteries in front of the backbone. These arteries will branch off to smaller arteries in the brain. The blockage can be caused by narrowing of the arteries of a flake of blood clot formed elsewhere and finds its way into the brain.

As we age, the arteries will tend to become narrower. The narrowing process will be worst by factors such as smoking, stress and diabetes.

These are some of the risk factors:

1. Age: as we age the risk will be higher. However TIA can happen to a younger group.

2. Gender : The male counterpart will be having higher risk

3. Ethnic: Certain ethic group will have higher tendency to get the TIA.

4. Family History: If you parents have the history, you may have a higher risk.

The Transient ischaemic attack is giving us the chance to get medical assistance. Do take it seriously, as the next attack can be the last.