Stroke & TIA

Overview

Stroke is a medical emergency. TIA, even if brief, signals high short-term risk of completed stroke and warrants urgent evaluation. Classic signs include face droop, arm weakness, and speech difficulty.

Symptoms

• Sudden face, arm, or leg weakness or numbness
• Sudden speech or language difficulty
• Sudden vision change
• Sudden severe dizziness, imbalance, or headache
• For TIA, symptoms resolve yet remain urgent

Causes

• Ischemic (clot obstructing artery) – most common
• Hemorrhagic (bleeding)
• Small vessel and cardioembolic mechanisms

Risk factors

• Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia
• Atrial fibrillation
• Smoking
• Family history, age

Diagnosis

Emergency assessment with neurologic exam and brain imaging; cardiac and vascular evaluation to identify cause.

Treatment & management

Emergency hospital care is required; prevention planning afterward includes risk factor control and individualized secondary prevention under physician guidance. Clinic visits do not replace emergency care.

Management is individualized and discussed with benefits, limitations, and follow-up.

Prevention & self-care

Blood pressure control, smoking cessation, exercise, diet, medication adherence when prescribed, and regular follow-up.

When to seek medical attention

• Any sudden neurologic deficit – call emergency services immediately
• Even if symptoms resolve, seek same-day urgent care

Frequently asked questions