Which term refers to recurring stroke-like events that last from a few seconds to a few hours and are warning signs of an impending stroke?

Which term refers to recurring stroke-like events that last from a few seconds to a few hours and are warning signs of an impending stroke?

• A. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• B. Spina bifida
• C. Transient ischemic attack
• D. Subdural hematoma

Answer: (C)

Transient ischemic attack refers to brief episodes of stroke-like symptoms caused by a temporary drop in blood flow to part of the brain. The defining feature is that these symptoms come and go quickly, usually lasting from a few seconds to a few hours, and then fully resolve. Even though there’s no lasting damage, a TIA is a critical warning sign that a real stroke could occur soon, so it requires urgent medical evaluation to identify risk factors and start preventive treatment. The other terms describe different conditions with distinct causes and presentations—for example, a brain bleed with a sudden severe headache, a congenital spinal defect, or bleeding after head injury—so they don’t match the pattern of transient, warning stroke-like events.

Transient ischemic attack refers to brief episodes of stroke-like symptoms caused by a temporary drop in blood flow to part of the brain. The defining feature is that these symptoms come and go quickly, usually lasting from a few seconds to a few hours, and then fully resolve. Even though there’s no lasting damage, a TIA is a critical warning sign that a real stroke could occur soon, so it requires urgent medical evaluation to identify risk factors and start preventive treatment. The other terms describe different conditions with distinct causes and presentations—for example, a brain bleed with a sudden severe headache, a congenital spinal defect, or bleeding after head injury—so they don’t match the pattern of transient, warning stroke-like events.