I will start this section by stating that it is shocking to me to read the medical studies done on this subject. The symptoms may go away as quickly as they came but it is still important to be checked for neurological and cardiovascular evaluation. One third of patients who has a TIA go on to have a stroke, and are identified as possible high risk of heart attack. A clot forms in one part of the body, breaks loose in whole or in part, travels in the blood stream until it lodges in an artery in the brain or in a vessel leading to the brain.
Most embolic strokes involve clots coming from the heart or catotid arteries.
The most common cardiac conditions associated with emboli are atrial fibrillation, valvular disease, presence of prosthetic heart valve, endocarditis, congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. The use of anticoagulant drugs reduce formation of blood clots. Coumadin is only given when aspirin therapy has failed or when it is clear that the source of the clot is the heart. Estrogen is believed to promote clotting and several studies show a risk increase when using oral contraceptives. Estrogen replacement therapy in post menopausal women may slow the atherosclerotic process lowering the risk of stroke and heart disease.