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Transient Ischemic Attack

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For this paper I researched strokes, more specifically, transient ischemic attacks or TIA’s. The difference between a transient ischemic attack and a stroke is that the blockage with a TIA is transient, or in other words temporary. A transient ischemic attack is what occurs when the blood flow to part of the brain is either blocked or reduced. This usually happens because of a blood clot. After some time the blood begins to flow normally again and the symptoms dissipate. According to WebMD, “people call a TIA a mini-stroke, because the symptoms are those of a stroke but don 't last long”. This is a very important health concern because most often a TIA is somewhat of a warning and means that you are very likely to have a stroke in the future. …show more content…

Most of these risk factors are ones that can be controlled and although many people don’t think about strokes until they have one or realize they are at risk, it’s important to be aware and take preventative measures before it’s too late. Though most risk factors are in your control, there are a few that are not. These risk factors include your age, race, gender, and also your family 's health history. As you grow older you become more at risk for a stroke and generally women have a higher risk of having a stroke in their lifetime than men do. Also African Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives all are at higher risk than other races. Lastly your risk of stroke is much higher if someone in your immediate family such as a parent or sibling has a history of stroke.
According to the American Stroke Association, blood clots are the most common cause of transient ischemic attacks. Also blood clots can be a result of atherosclerosis which is hardening of the arteries, a heart attack, or abnormal heart rhythms. This blood clot can block the blood flow that goes to your brain and within seconds your brain cells are affected by this blockage. This then leads to the symptoms in the parts of your body that are controlled by the affected cells. Once the clot dissolves the blood flow returns back to normal and the symptoms being to go

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