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Summary: Learn the definition of a TIA stroke, or transient ischemic attack, and the difference between it and a normal stroke with expert medical tips in this free online health care video clip.
Josh Wells is a firefighter and paramedic in Sedona, Az. He has been at Sedona for 3 years. Prior to that he was a firefighter in Colorado. He first became an EMT after 6 mos of...read more
"Another term you might hear when talking about strokes is TIA. What TIA stands for is Transient Ischemic Attack. Transient meaning short lived, Ischemic meaning no oxygen and attack is obvious. The difference between a TIA and a stroke, when someone has a TIA it's going to be short lived. People who have a TIA show all the signs and symptoms of a stroke except all those signs and symptoms will go away within 24 hours. At the first onset of stroke or TIA, it's impossible to tell which is the difference. So whenever you notice any of the signs and symptoms of a stroke, you want to call medical personnel immediately and get this person to a hospital quickly. Again I'll briefly cover with the TIA, it's a blockage to the artery, then it gets freed up after a short amount of time. With the stroke, it's a blockage that stays there, either a blockage or a bleed and it doesn't get cleared up immediately. So the difference between a stroke and a TIA, strokes are going to be a longer term, TIA is short lived. Anyone that's experienced a TIA, is going to be at a higher risk for having a stroke in the future."
eHow Article: What Is a TIA Stroke?