TIA

[tarponbound]

My dad (92) had a TIA about a month ago.  Is it common for more TIA's to occur now and will this eventually lead to a full blown stoke?

[PamRam228]

Hello...TIA's are a warning to our bodies that a full blown stroke CAN be headed our way.  How is your dads blood pressure?  What about clogged arteries?  How is his overall health? There is no way of knowing exactly what will happen as far as if another TIA will hit or if it'll be a full blown stroke..only thing your father can do is take the necessary precautions to lessen the risks.  Make sure you and everyone that is around your dad know the signs of a stroke because acting quickly when a person has a stroke can save his life!  Good luck to you!

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
A transient ischemic attack (TIA, often colloquially referred to as "mini stroke") is caused by the temporary disturbance of blood supply to a restricted area of the brain, resulting in brief neurologic dysfunction that usually persists for less than 24 hours.
The most common cause of a TIA is an embolus (a small blood clot) that occludes an artery in the brain. This most frequently arises from an atherosclerotic plaque in one of the carotid arteries (i.e. a number of major arteries in the head and neck) or from a thrombus (i.e. a blood clot) in the heart due to atrial fibrillation.
The mainstay of treatment following acute recovery from a TIA should be to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. It is not always immediately possible to tell the difference between a CVA (stroke) and a TIA.
Most patients who are diagnosed at a hospital's emergency department as having suffered from a TIA will be discharged home and advised to contact their primary physician to organize further investigations. The reason for the condition should be immediately examined by imaging of the brain.
TIA can be considered as the last warning for an impending stroke.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_ischemic_attack