Guest guest Posted November 19, 2002 Report Share Posted November 19, 2002 Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Dear Monica A Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA is a warning sign that a stroke may soon follow, and prompt medical treatment may prevent this. About one-third (36%) of people who have had a TIA later go on to have a stroke. The carotid arteries in the neck can be narrowed by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes fat and cholesterol (plaque) to build up on the inside of the arteries. The plaque narrows the artery and reduces blood flow. Blood clots are more likely to form on the plaque in these narrowed areas. If a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain, it can cause a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.People who have had a TIA or stroke may have narrowing in their carotid arteries. Some people may have narrowed arteries but have never had a TIA or stroke, or they may have had a TIA but not realized it at the time. In these people, signs of narrowed arteries may be detected by a test done for other reasons, such as an eye exam. If risk factors for stroke are present, it is important that the risk factors be treated to reduce the chance of having a stroke or another TIA. The risk factors include: *High blood pressure (the #1 cause) *Diabetes (the #2 cause) *Smoking *High cholesterol *Anemia or certain blood disorders *Atrial fibrillation After an initial evaluation for a TIA, further testing and treatment may be done on an outpatient basis. However, because of the increased risk for stroke, hospitalization may be recommended for: *People who have had more than one TIA close together (a cluster of TIAs). *People who have had TIAs because of a heart condition, such as atrial fibrillation. *People with symptoms that indicate a large area of the brain is affected. *People whose symptoms last longer than 60 minutes. *Older adults and those with significant risk factors for stroke, such as diabetes and heart disease. Carotid endarterectomy is a surgery to remove plaque from one or both carotid arteries. Tests such as carotid ultrasound, carotid arteriography, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are needed before considering surgery. These tests allow your doctor to measure the plaque buildup in your carotid arteries and see how well blood flows through the narrowed area. The amount of narrowing usually is described as a percentage. For example, if a plaque is blocking half of the artery, the doctor may say the artery is 50% narrowed. If plaque is blocking three- quarters of the artery, the doctor may say the artery is 75% narrowed. Some of these tests can also check the blood vessels above and below the neck. If those vessels are blocked or damaged, surgery may not be helpful because the surgeon cannot easily operate on these areas. No test can predict accurately which plaques are likely to cause a blood clot to form and cause a TIA or stroke. However, experts believe that irregular, jagged plaques are more likely than smooth plaques to cause problems. A person who has a narrowed carotid artery that contains an irregular or jagged plaque may benefit more from surgery. People who benefit most *Are those who have recently had a stroke or TIA and one of their carotid arteries is narrowed 70% or more. *People with less narrowing (50% to 69%) benefit less. *People who have had a TIA or stroke but whose artery is less than 50% narrowed do not benefit from surgery. *People who have not had a stroke or TIA may also benefit from surgery, but they benefit less than people who have had a stroke or TIA. *Tests that are done before surgery and the surgery itself also have risks, including a risk of stroke or death. Even if you have surgery, you will still need to take medication for the rest of your life to reduce your risk of stroke. This will include medication to prevent blood clots and, if needed, to control your blood pressure. Carotid Endarterectomy is not recommended if: *Your risk of having complications related to surgery is greater than your possible benefits from surgery. The risks of surgery may be high if you have other health problems, such as heart failure, that make surgery too risky. Your risks also may be higher if you do not have access to a hospital and surgeon who are experienced in doing this surgery. *You have had a TIA but your carotid arteries are narrowed 50% or less. In this case, the risks of surgery outweigh the benefits. You have had a TIA or stroke because of narrowing or blockage in the arteries in the back of the head (vertebrobasilar arteries) rather than the carotid arteries. *You have significant problems with your carotid arteries above the part of your neck that can be reached easily during surgery. It is more difficult to operate on the arteries that are above the neck where they enter your skull. Tests such as an MRA or angiography can show if there are problems in this area. I hope this helps. Andrew Pacholyk, LMT, MT-BC, CA Peacefulmind.com Alternative medicine and therapies for healing mind, body & spirit! 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Guest guest Posted November 20, 2002 Report Share Posted November 20, 2002 Dear Yogiguruji, I can't tank you enough for your fast answer and your kind attention to my problems. I wish you all my best! Monica. --- yogiguruji <yogiguruji wrote: > Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) > > Dear Monica > > A Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA is a warning > sign that a stroke > may soon follow, and prompt medical treatment may > prevent this. About > one-third (36%) of people who have had a TIA later > go on to have a > stroke. The carotid arteries in the neck can be > narrowed by > atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes fat and > cholesterol (plaque) > to build up on the inside of the arteries. The > plaque narrows the > artery and reduces blood flow. Blood clots are more > likely to form on > the plaque in these narrowed areas. If a blood clot > blocks blood flow > to the brain, it can cause a transient ischemic > attack (TIA) or > stroke.People who have had a TIA or stroke may have > narrowing in > their carotid arteries. Some people may have > narrowed arteries but > have never had a TIA or stroke, or they may have had > a TIA but not > realized it at the time. In these people, signs of > narrowed arteries > may be detected by a test done for other reasons, > such as an eye exam. > > > If risk factors for stroke are present, it is > important that the risk > factors be treated to reduce the chance of having a > stroke or another > TIA. > > The risk factors include: > *High blood pressure (the #1 cause) > *Diabetes (the #2 cause) > *Smoking > *High cholesterol > *Anemia or certain blood disorders > *Atrial fibrillation > > > After an initial evaluation for a TIA, further > testing and treatment > may be done on an outpatient basis. However, because > of the increased > risk for stroke, hospitalization may be recommended > for: > > *People who have had more than one TIA close > together (a cluster of > TIAs). > *People who have had TIAs because of a heart > condition, such as > atrial fibrillation. > *People with symptoms that indicate a large area of > the brain is > affected. > *People whose symptoms last longer than 60 minutes. > *Older adults and those with significant risk > factors for stroke, > such as diabetes and heart disease. > > Carotid endarterectomy is a surgery to remove plaque > from one or both > carotid arteries. Tests such as carotid ultrasound, > carotid > arteriography, and magnetic resonance angiography > (MRA) are needed > before considering surgery. These tests allow your > doctor to measure > the plaque buildup in your carotid arteries and see > how well blood > flows through the narrowed area. The amount of > narrowing usually is > described as a percentage. > > For example, if a plaque is blocking half of the > artery, the doctor > may say the artery is 50% narrowed. If plaque is > blocking three- > quarters of the artery, the doctor may say the > artery is 75% > narrowed. Some of these tests can also check the > blood vessels above > and below the neck. If those vessels are blocked or > damaged, surgery > may not be helpful because the surgeon cannot easily > operate on these > areas. > > No test can predict accurately which plaques are > likely to cause a > blood clot to form and cause a TIA or stroke. > However, experts > believe that irregular, jagged plaques are more > likely than smooth > plaques to cause problems. A person who has a > narrowed carotid artery > that contains an irregular or jagged plaque may > benefit more from > surgery. > > People who benefit most > > *Are those who have recently had a stroke or TIA and > one of their > carotid arteries is narrowed 70% or more. > > *People with less narrowing (50% to 69%) benefit > less. > > *People who have had a TIA or stroke but whose > artery is less than > 50% narrowed do not benefit from surgery. > *People who have not had a stroke or TIA may also > benefit from > surgery, but they benefit less than people who have > had a stroke or > TIA. > > *Tests that are done before surgery and the surgery > itself also have > risks, including a risk of stroke or death. Even if > you have surgery, > you will still need to take medication for the rest > of your life to > reduce your risk of stroke. This will include > medication to prevent > blood clots and, if needed, to control your blood > pressure. > > > Carotid Endarterectomy is not recommended if: > > *Your risk of having complications related to > surgery is greater than > your possible benefits from surgery. The risks of > surgery may be high > if you have other health problems, such as heart > failure, that make > surgery too risky. Your risks also may be higher if > you do not have > access to a hospital and surgeon who are experienced > in doing this > surgery. > > *You have had a TIA but your carotid arteries are > narrowed 50% or > less. In this case, the risks of surgery outweigh > the benefits. > You have had a TIA or stroke because of narrowing or > blockage in the > arteries in the back of the head (vertebrobasilar > arteries) rather > than the carotid arteries. > > *You have significant problems with your carotid > arteries above the > part of your neck that can be reached easily during > surgery. It is > more difficult to operate on the arteries that are > above the neck > where they enter your skull. Tests such as an MRA or > angiography can > show if there are problems in this area. > > I hope this helps. > > > Andrew Pacholyk, LMT, MT-BC, CA > Peacefulmind.com > Alternative medicine and therapies > for healing mind, body & spirit! > > > > > Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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