While these symptoms may have fortunately resolved without sequel, they should not be ignores. Less than 25 percent of stroke are preceded by TIA's. The risk of stroke following a TIA is 30 to 40 percent in five years, with the period of greatest risk within one month after TIA occurrence. Thus, the person who has transient symptoms needs rapid evaluation so that the cause of symptoms can be determined, stroke can be averted or some other disorder treated. If you or a loved one develop warning signs or symptoms of stroke, then you should immediately call 911 and notify your doctor.
Effective treatment exists for stroke.
Patients who receive tPA are 30 to 50 percent more likely to have minimal or no functional loss at 90 days after stroke than patients who do not receive tPA are. It is essential that the exact time of symptom onset be firmly established since tPA has not been proven to be effective or safe if given after three hours of stroke onset. It is useful to link the onset of symptoms to some activity, such as the person wah watching a segment of a news program that occurs at a specific time. Recent data indicate that tPA therapy is underutilized. Even if an individual is not eligible for tPA therapy, there is a good reason to seek medical care.