Symptoms of a stroke that rapidly go away signal a TIA

If you are concerned about stroke symptoms, even for a few minutes, you could be experiencing a TIA, which can serve as a warning for a future, more serious stroke.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) – sometimes called a "ministroke" – occurs when blood flow to the brain is briefly blocked. The symptoms of TIA and stroke are the same.

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty speaking and understanding speech
• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg
• Sudden confusion
• Trouble walking, dizziness or loss of coordination
• Sudden, severe headache

About 20 percent of people who have a TIA will have a stroke within 90 days, according to the American Stroke Association.

"Many people aren't aware of the signs and symptoms of TIA, so they may not connect these temporary symptoms to a stroke," notes Sherri Bee, MSN RN, NE-BC, director of cardiovascular services and quality at Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital. "Even though a TIA can resolve quickly, we still want people to get medical attention right away to identify TIA and take precautions against future strokes."

With a TIA, you may no longer have symptoms by the time you get to the emergency room, but we can order various tests to gather information and determine if what you experienced was a TIA, Bee adds.

Types of strokes

Strokes are either ischemic or hemorrhagic.

• Ischemic stroke – Occurs when a blockage, usually a blood clot, in an artery prevents blood flow to the brain.
• Hemorrhagic stroke – Occurs when an artery in the brain ruptures or leaks blood. The sudden rush of blood puts pressure on brain cells.

Just under 90 percent of strokes involve blocked blood vessels (ischemic), and the rest involve internal bleeding (hemorrhagic), according to the NIH.

'Time is brain'

Getting treatment quickly is essential for a better recovery, so learning more about stroke symptoms is critical.

"It is a fact that 'time is brain' when it comes to getting treatment for a stroke," Bee explains. "The longer your brain is without oxygen, the worse the damage will be."

Don't drive yourself or a loved one to the hospital if you suspect a stroke. Call 911 instead. Emergency crews can begin to assess the patient and communicate with the nearest hospital to the emergency department about the condition before arriving at the hospital.

One way Sentara meets this high standard of stroke care is with TeleStroke technology – a remote, video-based system that allows immediate access to neurologists. The remote neurologists work with a specially trained team of onsite nurses, physicians and surgeons to deliver rapid, life-saving care.

BE FAST: Recognize the sudden symptoms of a stroke

Because it's so critical to get medical help quickly, experts rely on an acronym, "BE FAST," to list stroke symptoms so it's easier to remember them.

B: Balance – Are you dizzy or have you lost your balance

E: Eyes – Is your vision blurry or are you having trouble seeing?

F: Face – Does one side of your face droop?

A: Arms – Is one arm weaker than the other?

S: Speech – Is your speech slurred or strange?

T: Time – Call 911 and get to a hospital IMMEDIATELY if you are experiencing any of these symptoms!

Sentara stroke care

The Sentara stroke program offers expert stroke care across Virginia and northeast North Carolina. A total of 11 hospitals and two free-standing emergency departments are certified stroke centers by DNV GL Healthcare, which means they have specific abilities to receive and treat stroke cases.

In 2023, all 12 Sentara hospitals received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's "Get with the Guidelines" (GWTG) Awards for providing excellent stroke care, ultimately saving more lives and shorter recovery times.

For more information, please visit Sentara.com/Stroke.