Can an individual experience a TIA without actually knowing what's happening?
Yes. Symptoms of a TIA can be similar to a stroke, including numbness, tingling and weakness that go away. People who undergo brain scanning (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography) for a different condition often discover evidence of possible cerebrovascular disease. In other words, we find evidence of previous tiny strokes or tiny areas of ischemic damage, and the patient did not feel any symptoms or was not aware that damage occurred. This is something we commonly find in older adults who receive brain imaging for another diagnosis. This gives us a clue that the patient may be at a higher risk for stroke, and we can intervene and manage their risk factors.
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Bryan R. Ludwig, MD
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