A transient ischemic attack (spelled ischaemic in British English) (abbreviated as TIA, often referred to as mini stroke) is a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by ischemia (loss of blood flow) – either focal brain, spinal cord or retinal – without acute infarction (tissue death). TIAs share the same underlying etiology (cause) as strokes: a disruption of cerebral blood flow (CBF). TIAs and strokes cause the same symptoms, such as contralateral paralysis (opposite side of body from affected brain hemisphere) or sudden weakness or numbness. A TIA may cause sudden dimming or loss of vision (amaurosis fugax), aphasia, slurred speech and mental confusion. But unlike a stroke, the symptoms of a TIA can resolve within a few minutes or 24 hours. Brain injury may still occur in a TIA lasting only a few minutes. Having a TIA is a risk factor for eventually having a stroke or a silent stroke. A silent stroke or silent cerebral infarct (SCI) differs from a TIA in that there are no immediately observable symptoms. A SCI may still cause long lasting neurological dysfunction affecting such areas as mood, personality and cognition. A SCI often occurs before or after a TIA or major stroke.
Well, a couple of hours ago (I'm on vacation), my dad got an e-mail from his sister that my grandfather had a transient ischemic attack (bascially a mini-stroke) over the weekend (she didn't say it immediately because she wanted us to enjoy our vacation). Crap. Here's the story:
My grandfather was telling a story to my aunt Tricia at her house about how he met the Blake family who owned the Friendly's restaurant chain a long time ago. However, he was having trouble finding words to say. She got quickly concerned and asked my aunt Threse over the phone what to do. Threse got on the phone with my grandfather and asked what he had for lunch. Pope (what I call my grandfather) answered, "A red magazine."
"Dad, go to the hospital now."
He went to the hospital. He was fine, all his scans were OK but yes, he had had a mini-stroke. His 2nd one ever.
He's on a stuffload of medicine right now for an 85-year-old man. My sister wants him to live to 100, but let's just say he's certainly not living another 15 years. Fortunately, our vacation is over tomorrow and we are having dinner with him. I'm glad he's OK now.
tl;dr: Read the whole goddamn thread.
