Transient Ischemic Attacks And Stroke Prevention

Transient Ischemic Attacks And Stroke Prevention

Stroke has been identified as one of the leading causes of death and disability in adults in USA. It stands at the third position in the list for leading cause of deaths in USA.

Strokes have brought about a great transformation in the method ischemic cerebrovascular disease is approached, with the introduction of the new therapeutic inventions. It is possible to avoid a subsequent stroke once the transient ischemic attack has been recognized.

The treatment for the prevention of a stroke depends upon the cerebrovascular localization of transient ischemic attack, the reason for the attack, and other simultaneous medical problems (if any). However, the primary therapeutic approach which is considered for treatment is the modification of the risk factors of a stroke.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents can also be taken in some cases. Carotid endarterectomy has also been proved to be effective to avoid strokes associated with extracranial carotid artery disease.

Facts or data supporting the problem of strokes
Around 150,000 deaths and 550,000 new strokes occur every year in USA. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease is the main reason for 80 percent of these strokes cases. The rest are generally due to hemorrhagic causes like intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid.

Though many efforts have been made for effective treatment of strokes, still ischemic stroke is one of the major health problems among people. After the blockage of blood flow, any permanent brain injury is the second reason that leads to a complete stroke. In comparison, TIA or transient ischemic attack, which is caused by a small interruption in the blood flow of local cerebral, is a brief focal neurologic deficit.

The TIAs are normally prevalent in 1.6 to 4.1 of the cases, according to their age and gender. Around one third of the patients who have had TIA 2 are likely to have strokes.

Generally 24 hours or more of focal neurologic deficit causes cerebral infarction. A focal neurologic deficit that occurs for less than 24 hours is called TIA3. A TIA in the territory of carotid is for only 7-10 minutes. It case a TIA is diagnosed, it refers to the fact that there is no permanent neurological injury. That is to say, permanent damage can be prevented.

Agents for the treatment
There must be a stroke prevention therapy that should be available for all TIA patients. Ticlopidine or Ticlid, aspirin, warfarin and clopidogrel or Plavix are the agents that are appropriate for the treatment.

When the doctor is prescribing a treatment to the patient, special emphasis should be given to the use of any TIA agent at an earlier stage, and then only a suitable treatment should be suggested.