Timing is critical when treating a stroke patient. If you arrive at Providence Regional's Emergency Department with symptoms of a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or mini-stroke, you'll receive an accelerated preliminary workup and then be taken to our Clinical Evaluation Unit (CEU), located on the same floor. Our experienced staff will look for heart irregularities, blockages in the carotid artery, and any other factors that indicate likelihood for a future stroke. What is TIA?
TIA is a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain. It usually comes on suddenly, then subsides fairly quickly—as soon as 15 minutes or as long as 24 hours after symptoms appear. While a TIA rarely causes physical damage, it is a very serious condition and is often an early warning sign of imminent, full-blown stroke. The CEU model of treatment dramatically cuts the risk of having a major stroke. The red flag that can save your life
A TIA precedes 15 to 20 percent of all strokes, and approximately 300,000 Americans suffer a TIA each year. The risk of stroke after TIA is greatest within the first 24 hours. Fortunately, with swift medical attention and preventive care, the risk of stroke after TIA can be cut by as much as 50 percent. TIA treatment
As a CEU patient, you usually only need aspirin therapy, blood pressure and cholesterol control, and heart monitoring. If you need surgical intervention, we'll contact a surgeon for immediate consultation. Know the TIA symptoms
Stroke and TIA symptoms are essentially the same. Someone having a TIA or stroke may experience one or more of the following sudden symptoms: numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body confusion, trouble speaking or understanding trouble seeing in one or both eyes trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms, even for a short time, call 911. Source: National Stroke Association
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