What is a TIA?

A TIA is a Transient Ischemic Attack or Mini Stroke. When my mother told me that my grandmother had about 13 strokes, if you include the 'mini' ones, I always thought she was exaggerating. But it's true, there is a phenomenon known as a mini stroke. A TIA occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short amount of time. The symptoms are the same as stroke symptoms but only last for a few minutes. Data from the American Heart Association says that TIA's precede strokes about 15% of the time. Do not ignore these, call 9-1-1 immediately if you believe you've had one.