F
e a t u r e
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Confusion.
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Trouble speaking or understanding.
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Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
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Trouble walking or maintaining coordination and
balance.
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Severe headache with no known cause.
Although its symptoms may not last, a TIA is still
a medical emergency. First, only a doctor can deter-
mine if you’ve had a TIA or a stroke. Second, prompt
medical or surgical treatment of a TIA may prevent a
future stroke.
UNDERSTAND YOUR RISK
A TIA is a strong predictor
of stroke risk, reports the ASA. A person who has had a
TIA is almost 10 times more likely to have a full-blown
stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn’t
had a TIA.
Tat’s why it’s important to reduce your risk for stroke
if you’ve had a TIA. Risk factors for both TIAs and stroke
include:
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Having high blood pressure.
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Smoking.
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Having heart disease.
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Having diabetes.
Your doctor can ofer advice and treatment to help
lower your risk. For example, he or she may recommend
that you increase your physical activity, eat a healthy diet
or quit smoking.
Other treatments include taking medicines, such as
aspirin or blood thinners, and having surgery.
Although its symptoms may not
last, a TIA is still considered
a medical emergency.
NO ONE IS IMMUNE
to the risk of stroke—this brain
attack can afect a person of any age, sex or race, and it
can happen without warning. Tat’s a sobering reality.
However, about 1 in 10 strokes are preceded by a
transient ischemic attack (TIA), reports the American
Stroke Association (ASA). Tis warning stroke—or
mini-stroke—is a foreshadowing that a larger, more
serious stroke may soon be on the way.
If you know the signs of TIA and act quickly, you may
be able to reduce your risk for a major stroke and help
protect your brain.
TRANSIENT, NOT TRIVIAL
A TIA is similar to a stroke
in that both are usually the result of a clot in an artery
that obstructs blood fow to the brain. Tey also have the
same symptoms. Unlike a stroke, however, a TIA doesn’t
cause permanent injury to the brain. It usually lasts less
than fve minutes, but it can last up to 24 hours.
Symptoms of both a TIA and stroke happen suddenly
and can include:
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Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg—
especially on one side.
Know stroke? Get the facts
Gender, race and
regional facts
Death and
disability facts
Stroke is more common
in men than in women in
most age groups.
Stroke is a major cause
of death and disability in
the U.S.
At all ages, more women
than men die of stroke.
On average, someone
in the U.S. has a stroke
every 40 seconds.
African Americans have
almost twice the risk of a
frst stroke than whites.
On average, one
American dies of stroke
every 4 minutes.
Strokes are more common
in the southeastern U.S.
than in other areas of the
U.S.
During a stroke, 2 million
brain cells die each
minute, increasing the
risk of permanent brain
damage, disability or
death.
Sources: American Stroke Association; National Stroke Association
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA)
DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS
A great community deserves a great hospital. And a great hospital
starts with an exceptional medical staf. At Clinton Memorial Hospital,
we believe our physician staf, made up of more than 183 board
certifed doctors, is second to none. Each and every day, these
dedicated individuals work to raise the level of care at our hospital.
And thanks to their ongoing commitment to excellence, their
professional dedication and their expertise in a comprehensive
range of medical specialties, they are making our community a
healthier place to live.
Great Doctors.
Raising the level of medical excellence and dedication.
Gr e at Commun i t y. Gr e at Hos p i ta l .
CMH Regional Health System Medical Executive Committee
First Row (left to right):
Dr. Brian Ondulick, Dr. Mangala Venkatesh
Back Row (left to right):
Dr. John Hollon, Dr. Mary Lou Inwood,
Dr. Rajiv Patel, Dr. Rick Compton
937.382.6611 • cmhregional.com
610W. Main Street,Wilmington, OH 45177