Can TIA symptoms last for months?
Here’s something you probably won’t hear in the emergency room: A transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke) can have symptoms that last for months or years afterward. Many healthcare providers think these symptoms are rare or at least short term, but a 2013 survey from the UK Stroke Association showed otherwise.
How long after TIA can you have a stroke?
A TIA usually lasts only a few minutes and doesn’t cause permanent damage. Often called a ministroke, a transient ischemic attack may be a warning. About 1 in 3 people who has a transient ischemic attack will eventually have a stroke, with about half occurring within a year after the transient ischemic attack.
How long does it take for TIA symptoms to go away?
This can cause sudden symptoms similar to a stroke, such as speech and visual disturbance, and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs. But a TIA does not last as long as a stroke. The effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours.
Can you have a TIA and it not show up on MRI?
A TIA cannot be seen on a CT or MRI, as opposed to a stroke, where changes may be seen on these scans. CT (computerised tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are both brain scans that tell where your stroke has happened in the brain and what type of stroke it was.
Will a TIA show up on a CT scan or MRI?
You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not. You may have an angiogram, CT angiogram, or MR angiogram to see which blood vessel is blocked or bleeding. You may have an echocardiogram if your doctor thinks you may have a blood clot from the heart.
Can a TIA not show up on a MRI?
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms: You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not.
