Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
What is a transient ischemic attack?
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini stroke, happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked for a short time. Symptoms look like a stroke but usually go away in one to two hours and don’t cause permanent brain damage. A TIA is a serious warning. It means there’s a higher risk of a full stroke soon, sometimes within days. Getting care right away and managing risk factors can lower the chance of another TIA or a future stroke.
Penn Medicine is a regional leader in TIA and stroke care. Our neurology teams use advanced neurodiagnostics, including specialized imaging and monitoring of the nervous system, to quickly and accurately identify what’s happening in the brain. Certified Penn Stroke Centers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey meet rigorous national standards for quality and safety.
TIA symptoms to watch for
Call 911 right away if you or a loved one has sudden signs of a TIA, even if they go away. Fast care can save brain function and lives.
The symptoms of a TIA are the same as a full stroke but don’t last long. Because they often clear up within minutes, many people ignore them. That can be dangerous, since nearly one in five people who have a suspected TIA will eventually have a stroke.
You might experience:
- Weakness or paralysis in the face, arm, or leg, often on one side
- Numbness or tingling
- Slurred speech or trouble understanding words
- Vision loss in one or both eyes or blurred vision
- Dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
- Confusion or trouble reading or writing
- Severe headache
Causes and risk factors for mini stroke
When blood flow to part of the brain is briefly blocked during a transient ischemic attack, it most often happens because the arteries that supply the brain have narrowed or become damaged. This narrowing is usually caused by a buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque inside the artery walls. A TIA can also occur when a blood clot forms elsewhere in the body like the heart and then travels to the brain. Although these blockages are temporary, they can interrupt oxygen delivery long enough to cause stroke-like symptoms.
Certain health conditions and lifestyle habits can make a TIA more likely. These include:
- High blood pressure
- An irregular heartbeat like atrial fibrillation
- High cholesterol or fatty buildup in the arteries
- Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes
- Smoking, heavy alcohol use, or recreational drug use
- Heart disease or poor circulation
- Older age and a personal or family history of stroke or TIA
Finding the cause of a TIA quickly
TIA symptoms may be gone by the time care begins, but evaluation is still urgent. Your provider will review what happened, perform a physical and neurological exam, and look for signs of problems with the heart or blood vessels. Blood work and heart monitoring can help identify conditions that increase stroke risk, like high cholesterol or an irregular heartbeat. Advanced imaging and other tools are used to examine the brain and blood flow, helping the care team understand what caused the TIA and how to help prevent a future stroke.
Next steps after a mini stroke
If you’ve had a TIA within the last two days, you may stay in the hospital so your care team can monitor you closely and look for the cause. While the physical symptoms of a TIA usually resolve within 24 hours, recovery from a transient ischemic attack isn’t just about symptom relief. It also focuses on lowering the risk of a future stroke.
Your care plan may include medicine to reduce blood clotting or to control conditions like high blood pressure or cholesterol. You’ll also get support for lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or adopting a heart-healthy diet. Some people may need a procedure to improve blood flow to the brain or remove clots.
TIA and stroke care expertise when minutes matter
After experiencing a TIA or stroke, it’s important to have a team of experts who can guide recovery and help prevent another stroke. At Penn Medicine, neurologists, neurosurgeons, vascular experts, and other specialists work together to deliver coordinated care focused on long-term brain health.
All Penn Medicine hospitals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have been recognized by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for excellence in stroke care. This includes the Penn Stroke Center, a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center at Lancaster General Hospital (LGH). These resources mean faster diagnosis, timely treatment, and a clear plan to support recovery and reduce the risk of future stroke.