Transient ischaemic attack also termed as a mini stroke is a result of the fluctuation in the blood supply of a particular area of the brain. This leads to a concise neurological disorder that lasts for less than 24 hours, but if the symptoms continue, it is termed as a stroke.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of transient ischaemic attack differ extensively from one person to the other, majorly depending on the area of the brain that gets affected.

The most common symptoms of this disorder include:

• Temporary loss of vision
• Having difficulty with speech
• Encountering weakness on one side of the body
• Lack of sensation or a tingling feeling, usually experienced on one side of the body
• The patient is unable to stay conscious.

Causes of transient ischaemic attack:

The primary cause of Transient ischaemic attack is an occulated artery in the brain due to an embolus.

Extreme contraction of the large blood vessels due to an arterial disease or increase in the thickness of blood caused by a blood disorder.

Some other disorders or diseases that lead to transient ischaemic attack are high blood pressure, migraine, heart disease, high level of cholesterol and diabetes.

Smoking can also trigger a to transient ischaemic attack.

Treatment

The drugs used in the treatment for transient ischemic attack are anti-coagulants like heparin and warfarin, also anti- platelet drugs like aspirin. The initial stages of transient ischaemic attack are usually treated with aspirin, clopidogrel and ticlopidine at later stages. If the attacks continue to occur after taking aspirin, a combination of aspirin and dipirydamole should be taken.

In order to minimize the frequency of the transient ischaemic attack, ACE inhibitors are recommended. The objective of the drug is to avoid lowering the blood pressure at a rapid rate since the lowering of blood pressure too fast might lead to the development of ischaemic lesion.