Contact number: 020 7806 4060
What is a TIA or ‘Mini Stroke’
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is temporarily disrupted. This in turn causes a lack of oxygen to that area of brain and can causes symptoms similar to that of a stroke, such as:
- Drooping in the face and/or arm
- Speech difficulties, such as slurring, not being able to speak, or having problems understanding
- Blurred or double vision
- Loss of coordination, clumsiness or dizziness
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs
- Nausea and vomiting
Unlike a stroke, as the loss of blood supply is temporary, symptoms will usually disappear within 24 hours, and most within minutes.
Important
A TIA, just like a stroke, is a medical emergency. If you spot the signs of a TIA in yourself or someone else, call 999 straight away. If the symptoms resolve, no matter how quickly, call 999 anyway – having a TIA is a sign that your risk of a stroke is much higher than normal.
What happens next?
When symptoms of a TIA occur, it is vitally important to be checked over and assessed by a specialist doctor as quickly as possible. The risk of a stroke is highest in the immediate period after a TIA, so the sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the more significantly your risk of a stroke is reduced. Indeed, a large observational study found that the risk of stroke reduced by 80% in those treated after a TIA.*
Many conditions look like a TIA (mimics). It is all the more important to ensure a correct diagnosis is made given that a diagnosis of TIA often has long-standing and far reaching consequences.
After you call 999, you may be taken to hospital or be referred for ongoing investigation and assessment by the NHS. You may also be given Aspirin to help reduce your risk of stroke. It is important that you do not drive if you suspect a TIA or stroke.
Private TIA Assessment at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital
You may choose to have your initial rapid assessment and follow-up work at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital. TIAs can happen for a number of reasons, nearly 20% of people who have a TIA will have a stroke within 90 days. This is why it is so important to have an assessment to determine the underlying cause.
If you suspect you have had a mini stroke (TIA) and would like to book our assessment package, this is what you can expect:
- When you call our contact centre they will take your details and symptoms and advise you if this service is right for you
- You will have an initial virtual consultation with a specialist stroke consultant within 12 hours of referral (if submitted on a working day or before 3pm on Friday)
- Within 24 hours you will have your scans and investigations (next working day if it is the weekend or after 3pm on Friday) which includes:
- Blood tests
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) – this measures your heart’s electrical activity using electrodes attached to the skin
- MRI & MRA of the brain and surrounding blood vessels, with a full report by a Neuroradiologist
- Blood pressure check
- An urgent follow up appointment with your specialist stroke consultant to discuss the results of your initial investigations. This can be via Zoom or in person.
- A follow up care plan detailing your diagnosis, risk factors and treatments.
If appropriate, you consultant may then recommend you have supplementary investigations.
Consultants
How Much Does A Private TIA Assessment Cost?
£2,650
The cost of our private TIA Assessment package is £2,650.
- An initial consultation and follow-up appointment with a consultant
- Pathology tests
- ECG (Electrocardiogram)
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- MRI & MRA with contrast
- Medication
Please note this package is only for self-pay patients.
TIA Supplementary Package
There are times when initial investigations definitively point to a specific cause of a TIA or stroke. Following your initial assessment with us, your consultant may recommend you have a supplementary package to give further insight. This would involve:
- An Echocardiogram in our cardiology department: This is a non-invasive imaging test using ultrasound to look at your heart. A bubble contrast echocardiogram uses ultrasound combined with an injection of microbubbles that can help detect tiny holes in your heart.
- An Ambulatory Electrocardiogram monitoring with Ziopatch. You will be given this by one of our cardiology team and shown how to wear it. You’ll wear it for 14 days.
- A consultation with one of our Stroke Consultants, either face-to-face in the clinic or via video call. During this appointment you will discuss your results and next steps.
TIA Supplementary Package Cost
£1,995
The cost of our TIA supplementary package is £1,995.
This package would be recommended by our consultant after you have had our Stage 1 Diagnosis package and includes:
- A consultation with a consultant at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital
- Echocardiogram/ Echocardiogram with Bubble Study
- ZIO Patch
Please note this package is only for self-pay patients.
Ongoing support with our expert team
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital’s Stroke Clinic is supported by full-time dedicated stroke consultants, vascular surgeons, cardiologists and interventional neuroradiologists, as well as a multi-disciplinary Therapies Department that includes Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Dieticians.
Whatever your needs following a suspected TIA or stroke, we can provide ongoing support and expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions About TIA or 'mini strokes'
There are certain things that can increase your risk of having a TIA, including:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat)
- Carotid stenosis (narrowing of the arteries that supply the brain)
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Regularly drinking alcohol to excess
- Obesity
People over 55 and people of Asian, African or Caribbean descent are also at a higher risk of having a TIA.
- Eating a healthy diet: An unhealthy diet can increase your chance of having a TIA or stroke as it can contribute to higher blood pressure and cholesterol level. Aim to eat a low-fat, high-fibre diet that includes at least five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables each day.
- Regular exercise: Can also help lower your cholesterol level and keep your blood pressure in a safe range.
- Stop Smoking: Smoking significantly increases your risk of having a TIA or stroke. This is because it narrows your arteries and makes your blood more likely to clot.
- Cut down on alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to weight gain, high blood pressure, and atrial fibrillation, all of which increase your risk of having a TIA or stroke.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is the single biggest risk factor for TIA and stroke. In fact, it plays a part in half of all strokes. Most people with hypertension don’t have any symptoms – this is why you should regularly check your blood pressure. However, if you have very high blood pressures, you may experience headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, difficulty breathing, buzzing in the ears and nosebleeds.
The carotid arteries are the two major arteries (one on the right and one on the left) that supply the front of the brain with blood. Narrowing of the carotid arteries (carotid artery stenosis) has been shown to be a major cause of TIA and stroke.
The carotid arteries can become narrowed due to a build-up of plaque, which is formed of fats, cholesterols and other substances that collect on the inner walls of the arteries.
In a TIA caused by carotid stenosis there is evidence that the plaque becomes unstable and bursts, causing a blood blot. This plaque is at risk of further rupture, which can result in more serious and disabling strokes.
As part of our TIA rapid assessment package, we will scan your carotids within 24 hours of your initial consultation. If carotid artery stenosis is diagnosed, we will start appropriate treatment immediately and arrange an appointment with a vascular surgeon who can definitively manage the issue, thus minimising your risk of a stroke.
At times, a rare cause of carotid stenosis can be found such as a carotid web (a flap of tissue that projects out of the artery’s inner lining). If this is the case, our vascular and stroke consultants have extensive experience in these rarer causes of carotid stenosis and will provide you with a tailored plan to manage your risks.
Atrial fibrillation is when the heart beats in an irregular fashion. This can cause blood to pool in one of your heart’s chambers instead of flowing through. Clots are then more likely to form that can travel through the carotid arteries into your brain.
Atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and dizziness but can also have no symptoms. For some, the first sign they have atrial fibrillation is a TIA or stroke.
Our TIA rapid assessment package includes an ECG which looks for signs of atrial fibrillation. If this is found, we will offer you medication that can reduce your risk of stroke by 62-72%.
If our TIA rapid assessment diagnoses a TIA or stroke and initial investigations did not indicate atrial fibrillation, you can choose to have our supplementary TIA analysis package, which includes a 14-day heart monitor. This is more likely to pick up if there is an underlying atrial fibrillation that may have caused your TIA.
Cholesterol is a vital substance in our bodies. However, if there is too much cholesterol in your blood it can clog up the arteries with fatty deposits and lead to a clot forming. Eating a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats can help reduce your cholesterol levels. However, if dietary changes alone are not having an impact, we may prescribe statins or another type of cholesterol-lowering medicine.
Transient ischemic attacks and strokes can be caused by several factors:
- A blood clot in the brain
- A fragment of a clot that has formed elsewhere in the body, broken free, and travelled into the brain.
- Narrowing or blockage off a blood vessel that restricts the flow of blood to the brain. This could be caused by fatty materials or tears in the lining of the artery such as a dissection.
Medically reviewed by Dr Sageet Amlani - MBChB Oxon MRCP on 04/06/2024