An accident or transient ischemic attack (TIA), like the one suffered by comedian Renato Aragão last Wednesday (7), is like a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) that ended before causing permanent damage to brain cells. Its occurrence should serve as a warning that the risk of a stroke may be imminent. President of Rede Brasil AVC and of the World Stroke Organization (World Stroke Organization), neurologist Sheila Cristina Ouriques Martins explains that TIA is like a pre-stroke, because it indicates that there is a very high risk of stroke in 48 or 72 hours. As in a stroke, in a TIA, a clot or fatty plaque reaches the blood vessels that supply the brain and causes a blockage, causing the cells in that brain region to stop working. The result is symptoms such as paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty speaking and understanding, dizziness and even loss of vision, which can affect one or both eyes. In the case of TIA, the particle that obstructs the artery dissolves or moves in a very short time, making the situation of ischemia transient and ending without sequelae. The neurologist warns that the danger is to think that there is nothing to worry about with the end of the symptoms. “It’s like angina, in the case of the heart, in which the patient has chest pain and it gets better, but that is a sign that the vessel is clogged or semi-clogged and a heart attack can occur. TIA is the same thing. It’s a alert that something is not right and also a chance to do the quick treatment and not have a stroke.” The doctor explains that the TIA can be a really quick episode, lasting less than a minute, but it can also take more than an hour. Symptoms come and go suddenly, but the risk of something more serious remains. “It is a sign of high risk, if there is no treatment. And the greatest chance of having a stroke is in the first three days. Therefore, you must go to the hospital on the same day and be attended to urgently”, says the doctor, who adds that the patient must be hospitalized to undergo tests and start preventive treatment. Treatment Opportunity A researcher at the D’Or Institute for Research and Teaching, neurologist Gabriel de Freitas points out that the search for medical attention must be as urgent as in the case of suspected stroke, because the work of investigating the causes of the TIA must begin as soon as possible to prevent the risk of more severe ischemia. Faced with a case of TIA, doctors try to understand what was the cause of the ischemic attack, identifying the source of the clot or fatty plaque. At the same time, preventive treatment with medications that thin the blood and reduce cholesterol is started. According to the neurologist, the TIA is less common than the stroke, because, many times, the person suffering the stroke was not alerted by a previous TIA episode. When this occurs, the doctor emphasizes that the patient is gaining an opportunity to protect himself. “Whether it lasted two minutes, or if it lasted an hour, the importance is the same: there is something in the organism that needs to be investigated and treated as soon as possible. Even if the person has completely improved, you have to look for a hospital service, because the risk of having a stroke in the next 48 hours is very high”, adds Freitas. Rede Brasil AVC warns that 90% of stroke cases are preventable, even though aging and genetic factors may increase risks. Health issues such as hypertension, diabetes and depression can be treated and reduce the chances of suffering from ischemia. Quitting smoking, not abusing alcohol, practicing physical activities, reducing the consumption of sugar, salts and fats and controlling excess body weight are also among the changes capable of minimizing the risk of cerebrovascular diseases. Types of stroke Episodes classified as stroke can be divided into two types: the ischemic, in which the blockage of the artery causes lack of blood in some part of the brain; and hemorrhagic, when the blood vessel ruptures and blood is spilled over the brain tissue. The first type is the most common, corresponding to something between 80% and 85% of cases. Seeking medical care quickly is essential because, for every minute that ischemic stroke is not treated, the person loses 1.9 million neurons, which, over the course of hours, can leave permanent sequelae, such as reduced movement, memory loss and speech impairment. Rede Brasil AVC recommends paying attention to the most common signs that someone may be suffering a stroke or TIA: weakness or tingling in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; mental confusion, change in speech or understanding; change in vision, balance, coordination, walking, dizziness and sudden, intense headache with no apparent cause. Severe headache is more common in cases of hemorrhagic stroke and rare in cases of TIA.
Agência Brasil
Folha Nobre - Desde 2013 - ©