Patient Ischemic Attack

Most CVA’S are embolic which can be described as extraneous material in the vessel that has blocked a cerebral vessel distal to the point of origin. Once this occurs the embolus breaks away from the blood vessel and becomes logged in a part of the brain, which stops the flow of the vessel distribution (Webb & Adler, 2008, p.235). Transient Ischemic attacks are considered “ mini strokes” because they are similar to a full stroke, although the disruption to the blood flow is temporary, signs of a (TIA) are often short lasting less than 1 hour and completed within 24 hours (Webb & Adler, 2008). Once an individual encounters a “ mini stroke” there is a 20% chance of the suffering from a stroke during the first year (Webb & Adler, 2008).