A transient ischemic attack (TIA) — also known as a “mini-stroke” — occurs when blood flow to your brain is temporarily blocked. TIA causes stroke symptoms that last for a short time, then go away. Unlike a stroke, a TIA doesn’t cause brain tissue to die because the blockage goes away quickly on its own.
Having a TIA means there is a problem with blood flow to your brain and is a warning that a more serious stroke may occur. According to the American Stroke Association, nearly 1 in 5 people who have a suspected TIA will have a stroke within 90 days. To reduce your risk of a future stroke, you must get immediate treatment for a TIA.
At UPMC, our stroke experts offer a full range of treatments for TIA. After diagnosing your condition, our stroke experts will develop a comprehensive treatment plan to reduce your risk of a future stroke.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) — also known as a “mini-stroke” — occurs when blood flow to your brain is temporarily blocked. TIA causes stroke symptoms that last for a short time, then go away. Unlike a stroke, a TIA doesn’t cause brain tissue to die because the blockage goes away quickly on its own.
Having a TIA means there is a problem with blood flow to your brain and is a warning that a more serious stroke may occur. According to the American Stroke Association, nearly 1 in 5 people who have a suspected TIA will have a stroke within 90 days. To reduce your risk of a future stroke, you must get immediate treatment for a TIA.
TIAs can be caused by:
TIAs are more common in males over the age of 55, but they can happen to anyone at any age. You may be at higher risk of a TIA if you have risk factors including:
Although TIAs do not cause permanent damage to your brain because they resolve quickly on their own, they are a warning sign that another stroke could happen in the near future. If a TIA is left untreated, it puts you at higher risk of experiencing a stroke that could cause permanent disability or death.
You may not be able to control some of your TIA risk factors, such as aging. However, preventing heart disease and chronic conditions can reduce the risk that you will have a TIA. You may be able to reduce your risk by:
The American Stroke Association estimates that approximately 240,000 people in the U.S. experience a TIA every year.
TIA symptoms are the same as stroke symptoms. They usually start suddenly and last a short time. Symptoms may last a few minutes or hours before going away on their own. Sometimes, symptoms can last up to 24 hours before going away. TIA symptoms can also come back later.
Symptoms of a TIA may include:
Women who have a TIA are more likely to experience generalized symptoms, such as tiredness, weakness, confusion, and trouble remembering or thinking. Men are more likely to experience changes to their senses, including hearing, vision, touch, or taste.
A TIA could be a warning sign of a more severe, life-threatening stroke and requires emergency treatment. If you have TIA symptoms, dial 911 right away — don’t wait, even if your symptoms go away. Getting fast treatment can reduce your stroke risk.
To diagnose a TIA, your doctor will perform a physical exam and order imaging or other tests.
When you arrive at the hospital, your doctor will:
Your doctor may request imaging tests to examine how blood flows through the blood vessels in your brain or other tests to look for the cause of your TIA. Diagnostic tests for TIA include:
Although a TIA will not cause permanent damage, it means there is a problem with blood flow to your brain. TIAs are a warning that a more serious stroke may occur. According to the American Stroke Association, nearly 1 in 5 people who have a suspected TIA will have a stroke within 90 days.
To prevent a future stroke, you must get immediate treatment for a TIA. Your prognosis will depend on how quickly you receive treatment for your TIA and manage your other stroke risk factors.
The goal of TIA treatment is to diagnose the cause of your TIA and prevent a future stroke by managing your stroke risk factors. Treatment may include:
Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of stroke. Lifestyle changes include:
Medication can help you manage other health conditions contributing to your TIA. Medications your doctor may prescribe include:
Carotid endarterectomy is the standard treatment for carotid artery disease. Your doctor may recommend this treatment if your TIA was caused by blocked or narrowed carotid arteries.
This surgical procedure allows your surgeon to remove the inner lining of your carotid artery that contains the plaque through a small incision in your neck.
If you need a carotid endarterectomy, UPMC vascular surgeons have performed thousands of these procedures. We generally discharge most patients the day after the procedure, with little risk for long-term complications.
Angioplasty and stenting are minimally invasive procedures that your surgeon may recommend if complete blockage or narrowing of your artery occurs. It allows your surgeon to use x-ray imaging to guide a balloon-tipped catheter to the blockage.
During this procedure, your surgeon will:
If you have atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) or another type of abnormal heart rhythm, your doctor may prescribe medication or recommend a procedure to:
When you choose UPMC for TIA care, you will receive:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-10-23.
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