Ataque isquémico transitorio (mini-accidente cerebrovascular)

Conocer sus factores de riesgo y llevar un estilo de vida saludable son las mejores maneras de reducir sus posibilidades de tener un ataque isquémico transitorio. Su médico puede asesorarle sobre qué cambios en el estilo de vida serán más útiles en su caso.

• Stop smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for stroke. If you smoke or vape, it's time to stop. Avoid secondhand smoke, too.
• Eat a healthy diet. Cutting back on saturated and trans fats can help prevent plaque buildup in your arteries. Focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables full of nutrients like potassium and antioxidants that support your heart and brain. If you have high blood pressure, avoid salty foods and don't add extra salt to your meals to help keep your blood pressure in check.
• Exercise regularly. Physical activity is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.
• Drink alcohol in moderation. If you drink, stick to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can increase your risk of high blood pressure and other health issues. Losing weight through diet and exercise can improve your health.
• Control your diabetes. Managing diabetes and high blood pressure with a healthy diet, exercise and medication (if needed) can help reduce your risk.
• See your primary care provider. A regular visit with your doctor is a great way to stay healthy.

Varios medicamentos pueden ayudar a reducir el riesgo de accidente cerebrovascular después de una AIT. Su profesional de la salud le recomendará un medicamento en función de la causa, la ubicación, el tipo de AIT y la extensión del bloqueo. Una vez que se le prescriban medicamentos para prevenir el accidente cerebrovascular, es importante seguir el régimen prescrito por su médico. Algunas opciones comunes incluyen:

• Aspirin: This is frequently recommended to help prevent stroke by reducing the risk of blood clots. Alternatives may include other blood-thinning medications.
• Blood pressure medications: These help lower the pressure on your blood vessels. Examples include calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics and others.
• Statins: These cholesterol-lowering medications help reduce the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) in your blood, which can build up in blood vessels and cause narrowing or atherosclerosis.
• Blood thinners: These medications make it harder for blood to clot, reducing the risk of a clot forming in the brain’s blood vessels. They may be recommended if you have conditions like atrial fibrillation or blood clots in the heart.

La cirugía podría considerarse para las personas que han tenido una AIT. Estas opciones quirúrgicas pueden ayudar a mejorar el flujo sanguíneo al cerebro y reducir el riesgo de futuras AIT o accidentes cerebrovasculares.

Las opciones de tratamiento pueden incluir:

• Angioplasty: A balloon at the tip of a catheter is inflated to widen narrowed arteries.
• Carotid endarterectomy: When other procedures aren’t possible, surgery may be used to widen blood vessels. One example is carotid endarterectomy, which removes plaque to make more room for blood to flow to the brain.
• Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR): This is a minimally invasive procedure to improve blood flow in the neck.