Transient ischemic attack: microstroke - what to do, Tashkent

Other names: ТИА, микроинсульт, преходящее нарушение мозгового кровообращения

A transient ischemic attack is a temporary disruption of the blood supply to an area of the brain, which causes the same symptoms as a stroke, but they disappear completely, usually within an hour. In everyday life this is called a “micro-stroke”, and it is the name that creates the dangerous illusion of something insignificant. In fact, a TIA is the most serious warning the body can give: the risk of a full-blown stroke is greatest in the first days after it. You need to be examined immediately, and not “when you have time.”

🧾 МКБ-10: G45 🏥 Where it is treated: 6 Symptoms go away within an hourRisk of stroke - in the first daysExamination immediately

👨‍⚕️ Which doctor

Neurologist, cardiologist

🔬 Diagnostics

CT/MRI, ultrasound of neck arteries, ECG

💊 Treatment

Stroke Prevention

📈 Prognosis

Good with timely measures

⚠️ At risk

Hypertension, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, diabetes

⏱ When to see a doctor

Apply on the same day

🚨 See a doctor urgently

With these signs do not wait for a scheduled appointment — the condition requires emergency care.

Симптомы повторяются или длятся дольше часа — вызывайте скорую
Слабость или онемение половины тела
Нарушение речи, невозможность подобрать слова
Внезапная слепота на один глаз, как «шторка»
Резкое головокружение с двоением и нарушением глотания
Впервые возникшие эпизоды у человека с мерцательной аритмией

What's going on

The lumen of the artery supplying part of the brain is temporarily blocked, most often by a small blood clot or a fragment of atherosclerotic plaque. Blood flow is restored before cells die, so symptoms go away without a trace. But the mechanism that caused the episode has not gone away, and next time the blood clot may remain in place - then a stroke will develop.

Main sources: atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries, blood clots from the heart in atrial fibrillation, damage to small vessels in hypertension and diabetes.

Symptoms

They completely coincide with the symptoms of a stroke - the only difference is that they pass.

Weakness or numbness of an arm, leg, half of the face, usually on one side
Speech impairment: slurring or difficulty understanding
Sudden loss of vision in one eye, often described as a curtain falling
Double vision, dizziness, unsteadiness
Brief confusion

Отличить ТИА от инсульта в момент события невозможно — это становится ясно только задним числом. Поэтому при появлении таких симптомов нужно вызывать скорую, а не ждать, пройдут ли они.

Why you shouldn’t postpone the examination

The risk of stroke after a TIA is highest in the first 48 hours and remains elevated for several weeks. A significant proportion of strokes that occur after a TIA occur in the first two days. At the same time, correctly prescribed prevention reduces this risk several times - but only if it is started on time.

КТ или МРТ головного мозга — исключить состоявшийся инсульт и кровоизлияние.
УЗИ брахиоцефальных артерий — поиск атеросклеротических бляшек и сужений сонных артерий.
ЭКГ и суточное мониторирование ритма — выявление мерцательной аритмии, которую человек может не ощущать.
Эхокардиография — поиск источника тромбов в сердце.
Липидный спектр, глюкоза, гликированный гемоглобин, общий анализ крови.

What do they do after?

Antithrombotic therapy - selected by the doctor depending on the cause; for atrial fibrillation this is a separate group of drugs
Reducing cholesterol with statins in atherosclerosis
Achieving target blood pressure is the most powerful factor in reducing risk
Compensation for diabetes mellitus
For severe narrowing of the carotid artery, surgical treatment is considered
Quitting smoking, losing weight, regular physical activity

Самая частая ошибка после ТИА — прекратить приём препаратов, когда «всё прошло и ничего не беспокоит». Именно отсутствие симптомов и есть результат лечения; отмена возвращает риск.

Services and prices for this diagnosis

Based on official price lists of Tashkent clinics. The exact cost is determined after examination.

🔬 Diagnostics

МСКТ головного мозгаfrom 350 000

Frequently asked questions: Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

The symptoms have gone away - do you need to see a doctor?+

Definitely and immediately. The risk of a full-blown stroke is highest in the first two days after a TIA, and prevention, started on time, reduces it several times.

How is a TIA different from a stroke?+

The symptoms are the same, but with TIA, blood flow is restored until cell death, and the disorders completely resolve. It is impossible to distinguish them at the moment of the event, so an ambulance is called in any case.

Is it true that a “mini-stroke” is harmless?+

This is a dangerous misconception generated by the word itself. TIA does not leave consequences in itself, but is a direct warning of a high risk of stroke in the near future.

What examinations are required?+

CT or MRI of the brain, ultrasound of the arteries of the neck, ECG with 24-hour monitoring to look for atrial fibrillation, echocardiography and lipid analysis. The task is to find the source of the blood clots.

How long to take the drugs?+

As a rule, long-term or lifelong is prevention, not a course of treatment. The decision to change the regimen is made only by the doctor; independent cancellation returns the risk of stroke.

The information on this page is for reference only and does not replace a doctor consultation. Only a qualified specialist can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment after an in-person examination.