10 Little-Known Stroke Varieties and Their Hidden Dangers

3. Transient Ischemic Attack

A transient ischemic attack is a term used to describe a type of mini-stroke similar to an ischemic stroke. The difference between a transient ischemic attack and an ischemic stroke is the transient ischemic attack only lasts for several minutes and does not result in permanent damage to the brain tissue. Because a transient ischemic attack is a quick and minor form of an ischemic stroke, its symptoms are the same as those of an ischemic stroke. Most symptoms of a transient ischemic attack will last for less than twenty-four hours. Having a transient ischemic attack significantly increases the patient's risk of having a future stroke. Approximately thirty-three percent of all individuals who experience a transient ischemic attack will experience an ischemic stroke within a year. Individuals who have a transient ischemic attack may need to go on medications that help lower the risk of having another stroke or attack, such as blood thinners and blood pressure reducers.