Health question-possible TIA?

Question

Last night as I was driving home, my head started to feel kind of weird.  Hard to explain, but it was kind of light headed and tingly.  And then my right cheek and jaw started tingling and it radiated down to my right arm to my elbow.  It lasted about half an hour and then went away.  I also had a very slight feeling of nausea.  I had no numbness, no loss of memory, no problem concentrating, no other symptoms.  

I have had alot of stress this past couple months, so my first thought was stroke or TIA.  Any additional comments or such?  I am going to see if I can get in to see my doc, but he usually takes about 3 weeks to get an appointment.  Oh, the wonders of HMO's.

Boris · Accepted Answer

You don't say what age you are, but if you are under 40-ish I doubt it will be a TIA, although nothing is impossible.  Of course you must mention it to your doctor, but I wonder whether you have had headaches or migraine?  Neck tension can also cause symptoms such as you describe.  The high blood pressure is sure to be stress-related, but that's not really high enough to cause a stroke. In the meantime, and just in case....take a daily dose of aspirin and then get your doctor to check you out.

lawmed · Answer

Short easy answer? YES it could be a TIA. Stress alone does not cause a TIA. Chronic high blood pressure and existing vascular disease in the brain, use a TIA as a warning to be checked out before having a stroke.

Your age makes a difference in the potential diagnosis also.

Health question-possible TIA?

2 Answers