In this reel, Dr. Jose Arciniega, a family medicine physician at Golden Gate Health, breaks down what a TIA is, the warning signs to watch for, and why you should never brush it off.
What Is a TIA?
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) happens when blood flow to part of the brain is briefly blocked. It's often called a "mini-stroke" because the symptoms look like a stroke — but they're temporary, usually resolving within minutes to an hour and leaving no permanent damage.
That temporary nature is exactly what makes a TIA so easy to ignore. But it should be treated as a serious warning: a TIA can be a sign that a full stroke may be on the way, sometimes within days.
Warning Signs to Watch For
An easy way to remember the most common stroke and TIA symptoms is FAST:
- A — Arm weakness or numbness
- S — Speech difficulty — slurred or hard to understand
- T — Time to call 911 immediately
Other symptoms can include sudden numbness on one side of the body, confusion, trouble seeing, dizziness or loss of balance, or a sudden severe headache.
Why You Shouldn't Wait
Even if the symptoms disappear on their own, call 911 right away. The risk of a stroke is highest in the hours and days after a TIA, and prompt medical care can dramatically lower that risk.
Getting evaluated also lets your care team find and treat the underlying cause — things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or an irregular heartbeat — before a more serious event occurs.
This article is for general education and isn't a substitute for personal medical advice. If you or someone near you may be having a TIA or stroke, call 911 immediately.