Symptoms

A TIA is a warning: It means you are likely to have a stroke in the future. If you think you are having a TIA, call . Early treatment can help prevent a stroke. If you think you had a TIA but your symptoms went away, you still need to call your doctor right away.

Symptoms of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) occur suddenly and are always temporary. They usually go away in 10 to 20 minutes. TIA symptoms are just like stroke symptoms. They vary depending on which part of the brain is affected. Common symptoms of TIA may include:

• Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.
• Sudden vision changes.
• Sudden trouble speaking.
• Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple statements.
• Sudden problems with walking or balance.
• A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.

If symptoms last longer than an hour, it might be more likely that you have had a stroke.

What Happens

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a warning sign that a stroke may soon follow. Any symptoms of a TIA need to be treated as an emergency.

• After a TIA, 9 to 17 out of 100 people will have a stroke in less than 90 days.¹ The risk of stroke is highest in the first 30 days after a TIA.
• A TIA happens before about 15 out of 100 strokes.¹

A TIA also may signal an increased risk for a heart attack. Atherosclerosis, which is hardening of the arteries, affects blood vessels throughout the body, including arteries that supply blood to the heart and brain. Atherosclerosis that affects the blood vessels in the heart (coronary arteries) may cause chest pain or a heart attack.