Common causes

· A blood clot that temporarily blocks a brain artery, often originating elsewhere in the body and travelling to the brain.

· Carotid artery narrowing, where plaque buildup in the neck arteries reduces blood flow or sheds small clots.

· Atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that allows clots to form in the heart and travel to the brain.

· Small vessel disease within the brain itself reduces blood flow to smaller regions.

Underlying disease pathways

TIA rarely happens in isolation, it's almost always a symptom of broader vascular disease, whether that's atherosclerosis affecting the arteries, an underlying heart rhythm problem, or a combination of both working together over years.

Modifiable risk factors:

1. High blood pressure.

2. Diabetes.

3. High cholesterol.

4. Smoking.

5. Obesity.

6. Physical inactivity.

7. Excessive alcohol use.

Non-modifiable risk factors:

· Older age.

· Family history of stroke or TIA.

· Genetic predisposition to vascular disease.

High-risk patient groups

· Patients with known atrial fibrillation.

· Patients with known carotid artery narrowing.

· Anyone with a previous TIA or stroke.

· Patients with poorly controlled diabetes or hypertension.

· Smokers with additional vascular risk factors.

Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)