Neurology
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Having a transient ischemic attack may be a warning of a future stroke. At UC Davis Health, we offer nationally recognized care to lower your risk factors for stroke and keep you as healthy as possible.
Medically reviewed by Kwan Ng, M.D. on Aug. 04, 2025.
What is a Transient Ischemic Attack?
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) happens when blood flow to your brain is blocked temporarily. A TIA causes stroke symptoms that last from a few minutes up to 24 hours. Sometimes it is called a “mini-stroke.”
Since transient ischemic attack symptoms look the same as stroke symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. TIAs may also be warning signs of future strokes.
About one-third of people who have a TIA will have a stroke at some point. At the UC Davis Comprehensive Stroke Center, we specialize in recommending the right treatments to reduce your future stroke risk.
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Transient Ischemic Attack Symptoms
TIA symptoms can be the same as stroke symptoms. But they last a shorter time and go away on their own.
Emergency Symptoms
A transient ischemic attack is a medical emergency. If any of the following TIA symptoms come on suddenly, seek medical care right away by calling 911.
- Loss of sensation, numbness, or weakness, usually on one side of your body
- Difficulty speaking, such as slurring your words or trouble understanding others
- Blindness or blurriness in one or both eyes
- Dizziness or loss of balance
Transient Ischemic Attack Causes
A TIA happens due to temporarily reduced blood flow to an area of your brain. This may be caused by:
Blood Clot in Your Brain
A blood clot may form in an artery of your brain (thrombosis), stopping blood flow.
Blood Clot Traveling to Your Brain
A blood clot may form somewhere else in your body, such as your heart. This clot may travel through your arteries to your brain (thromboembolism), stopping blood flow.
Fatty Deposits in an Artery
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in an artery (atherosclerosis) can travel through your bloodstream and become stuck in an artery to the brain.
Narrowed Arteries
Narrowed arteries in or around your brain due to atherosclerosis can lessen blood flow to your brain.
Risk Factors for TIA
A number of factors can increase your chances of a TIA. These risk factors include:
Age
Your risk increases with age, especially if you’re over age 55.
Family History
You may be at higher risk if a family member has had a TIA or a stroke.
Gender
Men are at a slightly increased risk of a transient ischemic attack.
Heart Disorders
Having atrial fibrillation (Afib), heart disease, heart failure, or a heart attack may increase your risk of blood clots in your heart that travel to your brain.
High Blood Pressure
Having high blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the major risk factors for a TIA.
High Cholesterol
Having high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) can increase plaque in your arteries that may lead to blood clots.
Obesity
Excess weight, particularly around your abdomen, increases the risk of TIA.
Previous TIA or Stroke
Having a TIA or stroke in the past increases your risk of a TIA going forward.
Poor Nutrition and Physical Activity
Eating a diet high in trans fats, saturated fats and salt increases your TIA risk, as does lack of exercise.
Recreational Drug and Alcohol Use
Excessive use of non-prescribed drugs and alcohol may increase TIA risk.
Smoking or Vaping
Using tobacco raises your risk of blood clots and atherosclerosis.
Type 2 Diabetes
Having type 2 diabetes raises your risk of atherosclerosis, which increases TIA risk.
Transient Ischemic Attack Diagnosis
If you arrive at the emergency room with TIA symptoms, you will usually be admitted to the hospital so we can do tests and treat you as soon as possible. We will:
- Ask about your symptoms and review your medical history.
- Do a physical exam, including checking your blood pressure and pulse rate, listening to your heart with a stethoscope, checking your vision, and looking for muscle weakness.
- Check your brain function, including your speaking and thinking.
- Do a CT scan or MRI to see if areas of your brain have been damaged by a stroke or if you have a brain bleed (intracerebral hemorrhage).
Depending on your symptoms and the results of these tests, we may also:
- Do blood tests to look for risk factors such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
- Take an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) reading to look for irregular heartbeats.
- Do an echocardiogram to look for blood clots from your heart.
- Do a continuous ECG to look at your heart rate and rhythm for 24 hours.
- Perform a CT angiogram or magnetic resonance angiogram to see which arteries may be blocked.
- Do a carotid duplex ultrasound to look for narrowing of the arteries in your neck (carotid arteries).
Transient Ischemic Attack Treatments at UC Davis Health
We focus treatment for a TIA on reducing your risk of stroke.
We will aggressively treat any conditions that may have caused a TIA to help lessen your stroke risk factors.
Our experienced team at UC Davis Health will personalize your care to your specific needs. Treatments that we offer include:
Medications
We may try to reduce your risk of blood clots by prescribing antiplatelet medications or anticoagulants. We may also recommend blood pressure medications or cholesterol-lowering medications (statins).
Surgery
If you have a narrowed carotid artery, we may suggest surgery to widen it (carotid endarterectomy). We remove plaque and clots in the artery, which allows blood to flow more easily to your brain.
Angioplasty With Stenting
We may thread a long, narrow tube (catheter) with a balloon on the end into a narrowed artery. After we inflate the balloon to widen the artery, we insert a small, mesh tube (stent) to keep it open.
Transient Ischemic Attack Prevention
Reducing your risk factors for TIA can help you avoid getting it. Some ways to help prevent transient ischemic attacks include:
Eat a Balanced Diet
Aim for a diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try to consume fewer fried foods and salt. These steps can help reduce your cholesterol and control your blood pressure.
Manage Chronic Conditions
Getting conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes under control can help lessen your risk of TIA.
Limit Alcohol and Drug Use
Reducing your alcohol intake and avoiding substance misuse lowers your TIA risk.
Lose Excess Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight reduces your risk of TIA and stroke.
Stay Physically Active
Physical activity helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol and prevents weight gain.
Quit Smoking
Stopping smoking or not smoking at all can lower your blood pressure. It can also reduce your risk of blood clots and atherosclerosis.
“Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA),” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/transient-ischemic-attack-tia
Who does it affect?
240KPeople have a TIA in the U.S. each year
Stroke incidence
1 in 5People with a TIA have a stroke within 90 days
Source: American Heart Association: Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
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