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NIH Radio

Transient Ischemic Attack - TIA

Brief Description:

Transient Ischemic Attacks must be taken seriously.

Transcript:

Graziosi: Transient Ischemic Attacks or TIAs often come on suddenly and the symptoms can be dramatic.

Warach: Weakness on one side of the body, speech disturbances, aphasia.

Graziosi: And, according to Dr. Steven Warach of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, TIAs are warning signs that something more serious can be right around the corner.

Warach: We know that patients that have TIAs, particularly those that may cause a little brain injury, are much more likely to have the big one — big stroke — over the next days and weeks.

Graziosi: Dr. Warach says knowing your risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can help prevent TIAs.

Warach: So to have a TIA is really like a wake-up call to say better check everything especially if you already have risk factors or are on medicines.

Graziosi: Dr. Warach says since TIAs normally don’t cause brain injuries, doctors must get a good clinical history on the patient to determine if the patient suffered a TIA or something more serious. For more information on TIAs visit www.ninds.nih.gov. This is Cherry Graziosi, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

About This Audio Report

Date: 3/08/2011

Reporter: Cherry Graziosi

Sound Bite: Dr. Steven Warach

Topic: transient ischemic attack, TIA, mini stroke, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, weakness, aphasia

Institute(s):
NINDS

Additional Info: NINDS Transient Ischemic Attack Information Page

This page last reviewed on March 23, 2011

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