Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini Stroke)

Knowing your risk factors and living a healthy lifestyle are the best ways to reduce your chances of having a transient ischemic attack. Your doctor can advise you about which lifestyle changes will be most helpful in your case.

• Stop smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for stroke. If you smoke or vape, it's time to stop. Avoid secondhand smoke, too.
• Eat a healthy diet. Cutting back on saturated and trans fats can help prevent plaque buildup in your arteries. Focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables full of nutrients like potassium and antioxidants that support your heart and brain. If you have high blood pressure, avoid salty foods and don't add extra salt to your meals to help keep your blood pressure in check.
• Exercise regularly. Physical activity is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.
• Drink alcohol in moderation. If you drink, stick to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can increase your risk of high blood pressure and other health issues. Losing weight through diet and exercise can improve your health.
• Control your diabetes. Managing diabetes and high blood pressure with a healthy diet, exercise and medication (if needed) can help reduce your risk.
• See your primary care provider. A regular visit with your doctor is a great way to stay healthy.

Several medications may help lower the risk of stroke after a TIA. Your healthcare professional will recommend a medication based on the cause, location, type of TIA and the extent of the blockage. Once you are prescribed medications to prevent stroke, it is important to follow the regimen prescribed by your doctor. Some common options include:

• Aspirin: This is frequently recommended to help prevent stroke by reducing the risk of blood clots. Alternatives may include other blood-thinning medications.
• Blood pressure medications: These help lower the pressure on your blood vessels. Examples include calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics and others.
• Statins: These cholesterol-lowering medications help reduce the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) in your blood, which can build up in blood vessels and cause narrowing or atherosclerosis.
• Blood thinners: These medications make it harder for blood to clot, reducing the risk of a clot forming in the brain’s blood vessels. They may be recommended if you have conditions like atrial fibrillation or blood clots in the heart.

Surgery might be considered for people who have had a TIA. These surgical options can help improve blood flow to the brain and lower the risk of future TIAs or strokes.

Treatment options may include:

• Angioplasty: A balloon at the tip of a catheter is inflated to widen narrowed arteries.
• Carotid endarterectomy: When other procedures aren’t possible, surgery may be used to widen blood vessels. One example is carotid endarterectomy, which removes plaque to make more room for blood to flow to the brain.
• Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR): This is a minimally invasive procedure to improve blood flow in the neck.