Commonly called a mini-stroke, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief interruption to the brain’s blood supply. It may cause temporary impairment of vision, speech, sensation, or movement. Symptoms typically last from a few minutes to several hours, but disappear completely within 24 hours. (Symptoms that last longer indicate a stroke.)
There are no permanent aftereffects, although a TIA can be a prelude to a stroke.
The process of a TIA is similar to that of a clot-related stroke (below), except that in a TIA the blockage in the blood vessel is temporary. Risk factors for a TIA include high blood pressure, an unhealthy diet, smoking, and disorders such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in the blood), and certain heart conditions.