A heart tracing, or ECG , can show abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation , or certain changes from a heart attack . There are usually no long-term effects of the transient ischemic attack itself. Twenty percent of these strokes were fatal, and two-thirds were disabling. TIAs are not contagious and pose no risks to others. Most people with transient ischemic attacks are treated right away with aspirin and then with blood thinners if they do not have bleeding into the brain.
Blood thinners help prevent further TIAs or strokes.
Because the symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke, the emergency medical system should be contacted immediately. For instance, those with a heart infection may be given antibiotics. Those with arteritis are often given corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to reduce inflammation in the brain. If an individual has significant narrowing of the carotid arteries, a carotid endarterectomy may be recommended to widen them. This surgical procedure removes the cholesterol plaques and may prevent future strokes.