The American Heart Assoc. page on TIAs...

[Junkdrawer]

What is a TIA or transient ischemic attack?

A TIA is a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke.

Most strokes aren't preceded by TIAs. However, of the people who've had one or more TIAs, more than a third will later have a stroke. In fact, a person who's had one or more TIAs is more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn't.

TIAs are important in predicting if a stroke will occur rather than when one will happen. They can occur days, weeks or even months before a major stroke. In about half the cases, the stroke occurs within one year of the TIA.

What causes a transient ischemic attack?

TIAs occur when a blood clot temporarily clogs an artery, and part of the brain doesn't get the blood it needs. The symptoms occur rapidly and last a relatively short time. Most TIAs last less than five minutes. The average is about a minute. Unlike stroke, when a TIA is over, there's no injury to the brain.


....

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4781

[Wiley50]

1. Oh. Silly Me!

I was trying to figure out what Truth-Is-All
had to do with Tim Johnson's stroke.

Now i know

[renate]

2. this could be a blessing in disguise

Now he knows there's a potential problem and he and his doctor can take steps to reduce the risk of a stroke.

Thanks for the link!

[Junkdrawer]

3. .

[SmokingJacket]

4. But do you have surgery after a TIA?? My gramma didn't. nt

[Junkdrawer]

5. From the same site:

...

TIAs are extremely important predictors of stroke. Don't ignore them! If symptoms appear, CALL 9-1-1 TO GET MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY. A doctor should determine if a TIA or stroke has occurred, or if it's another medical problem with similar symptoms. Some examples are seizure, fainting, migraine headache, or general medical or cardiac condition. Prompt medical or surgical attention to these symptoms could prevent a fatal or disabling stroke from occurring.

...

[SmokingJacket]

6. Well I hope that's all it was.

With my gramma's TIA, they just gave her blood thinners.

[Junkdrawer]

7. VIP Medicine...(from kos)....

...

What surgery? Don't know as of this moment. But if he had a TIA, that would generally involve a Carotid Ultrasound as part of the ER work-up. If that revealed a critical stenosis of the carotid artery, it is possible that he would proceed emergently to the operating room to open the offending artery via a procedure called carotid endarterectomy <...> Generally, carotid endarterectomies are not performed emergently, but in the case of a senator, VIP medicine might well motivate a vascular surgeon to do so.

...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/12/14/14814/677

[SmokingJacket]

8. How I love the internets.

Poor gramma, not a VIP. She's fine now, though. Let's hope the same for Johnson.