Ischaemic stroke

A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. The clot usually dissolves on its own or gets dislodged, and the symptoms usually last less than five minutes. While a TIA doesn’t cause permanent damage, it’s a “warning stroke” signaling a possible full-blown stroke ahead. When you first notice symptoms, get help immediately, even if symptoms go away. Stroke rates double every 10 years after age 55. If you’ve previously had a stroke, pay careful attention for signs of a TIA because that could signal a second stroke in your future. Common warning signals include sudden onset of: • Weakness, numbness or paralysis on one side of your body • Slurred speech or difficulty understanding others • Blindness in one or both eyes • Dizziness • Severe headache with no apparent cause Major risk factors for a TIA or stroke include: Diagnosis and Treatment TIAs’ temporary symptoms, which can last from only a few minutes up to 24 hours, make diagnosis challenging. Stroke symptoms that disappear in under an hour need emergency assessment to help prevent a full-blown stroke. Get help immediately if you think you could be having a TIA. Ideally your comprehensive evaluation should be done within 24 hours of when symptoms began. Here is what you can expect: • Assessment for symptoms and medical history • Imaging of the blood vessels in the head and neck • Other testing such as head CT, angiography and MRI Once TIA is diagnosed, a follow-up visit with a ne...

The treatment for ischemic stroke is clot removal. Doctors can accomplish this with medication and mechanical treatments: Medication Treatment with Alteplase IV r-tPA Considered the gold standard, Doctors administer Alteplase IV r-tPA through an IV in the arm, dissolving the clot and improving blood flow to the part of the brain being deprived. Many people don’t arrive at the hospital in time to receive the medication, which can save lives and reduce long-term effects of stroke. So it’s important to identify stroke and seek treatment immediately. Mechanical Treatment to Remove the Clot An In this procedure, doctors use a wire-cage device called a stent retriever. They thread a catheter through an artery in the groin up to the blocked artery in the brain. The stent opens and grabs the clot. Special suction tubes may also remove the clot. The procedure: • Should be done within six hours of the onset of acute stroke symptoms. • Can benefit patients under certain conditions if done within 24 hours of onset. • Should include Alteplase IV r-tPA treatment in eligible patients Additional resources for acute ischemic stroke and treatment: • • • The American Heart Association receives support from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers whose products may be mentioned in this article. The American Heart Association maintains strict policies preventing supporters from influencing science-based health information. A list of supporters ...