Ischemic strokes and TIAs occur when a vessel carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked, causing the blood flow to a particular area to slow or stop. This usually happens in one of three ways:
- A blood clot forms in a blood vessel in the brain and blocks the vessel.
- A blood clot that formed elsewhere in the body breaks loose and travels to the brain, blocking a vessel.
- A major artery carrying blood to the brain, such as a carotid artery, becomes blocked.
In a TIA, the symptoms disappear because the blockage is cleared before the brain suffers serious, permanent damage. But even though the symptoms don't linger, some brain injury may have occurred. When a person has multiple small strokes, the damage may add up to vascular dementia: a progressive loss of memory, judgment, and the ability to think and communicate. That's why it's so important that TIAs be taken seriously and treated appropriately.
