Have you ever seen or heard someone fainted briefly and regained consciousness spontaneously shortly thereafter? This scenario is called transient ischaemic attack (T.I.A). It may sometimes manifest as sudden collapse in which the person regained consciousness a little while later; sudden inability to use a part of the body or sudden blindness which resolves spontaneously by itself. The recovery is often total with no residual disability. This is a serious condition that should not be taken lightly.
Transient ischaemic attack is a result of temporary loss of blood supply to a portion of the brain controlling certain part of the body. This loss of blood supply usually results from blood clots temporarily blocking the blood vessels supplying a portion of the brain. It may also be due to spasm (sudden narrowing) of the blood vessels to certain portion of the brain.
The consequent blockage of blood supply to the part of the brain supplied by the affected blood vessels renders that portion of the brain non-functional for that period of time, thus leading to the loss of function of those brain cells and the loss of function seen in certain parts of the body controlled by that portion of the brain.
Function is regained as soon as blood supply returns to the affected portion of the brain, usually due to sweeping away of the blood clots or relieving of the spasm.
Blood may clot inside blood vessels due to variety of reasons. These include: damaged blood vessels, drugs, complication of surgery, abnormal blood parameters, certain disease conditions etc.
In those with the tendency for blood clotting, these blood clots usually form in the lower portion of the body, due to the sluggishness of blood flow back to the heart, occasioned by gravity.
The clots are then transported to every part of the body. Due to the large quantity of blood supply to the brain from the heart, these blood clots may get transported to the brain and block some of the small blood vessels supplying the brain cells, with the consequent T.I.A or stroke, depending on their duration of blocking the vessels.
T.I.A is a warning that stroke is around the corner. In fact, T.I.A is a “small stroke” which resolves on its own. It is therefore a warning against a “bigger stroke” lurking at the corner. This therefore necessitates immediate action.
After any event suspected to be T.I.A, the affected person should not hesitate to have a medical check-up because worse stroke event can follow at any moment, and this is usually more devastating than the transient event that preceded it. It may be so severe as to render the person useless functionally or even lead to death.
Prevention can be achieved by:
