TIAs Aren’t Recognized Often or Early Enough

A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage.  The trouble is, many people remain unaware that they have had a mini-stroke, and so they don’t undertake the necessary steps to ensure they don’t have a full-blown stroke in the near future.  This problem is considerable in the UK, where more than 2/3 of TIA patients may remain unaware of their diagnosis, and 1/3 delay seeking medical help for more than 24 hours.  This is reported in the journal Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers in Oxfordshire, UK, interviewed 1,000 consecutive TIA/minor stroke patients, focusing on delay in seeking medical attention.  Their average age was 73.  The researchers differentiated between TIAs and minor strokes, but the results (and the consequences) for the two conditions were quite similar.At least 68% of patients didn’t know the cause of their symptoms.  Only 47%sought medical attention within 3 hours, so that they could receive a clot-busting drug. Around 70% sought medical help within 24 hours; 77% went to their family doctor first, rather than the ER.  Delay was more likely on Fridays, weekends, or holidays.  Worst of all, approximately 30% of early recurrent strokes occurred before the patient had sought medical help. 

It’s worthwhile repeating the signs of a TIA (or minor stroke) here:

• ·       Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side
• ·       Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• ·       Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• ·       Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• ·       Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Don’t be one of the 30% who ignore the possible importance of one or more of these signs.  Dial 911 or get to the ER within 3 hours, so that preventive action can be started in good time.