The risk of stroke

Q. If Sheetal has had a TIA what is her risk of having a stroke? Drag and drop the statements on the right to the appropriate column.

False

Risk increases in the following year – although the risk of stroke compared with an unaffected person is higher the daily risk (i.e. the risk of having a stroke on a particular day) of stroke declines the longer it is after the TIA. The risk of stroke in the second year after a TIA is perhaps 1 in 20 (5%) over the whole year.

Risk can be reduced to that of a person who has not had a TIA – our treatments are not that effective.

True

The risk of stroke is highest in the first few hours to days after the TIA.

For example, the risk of having a stroke in the first two days after TIA has been estimated to be 4% to 10% percent.

People with certain characteristics (>60 years, high blood pressure, hemiparesis, speech problems, TIA symptoms lasting >60 minutes, severe artery stenosis and visible ischaemia on brain imaging) are thought to have a higher risk of stroke (i.e. closer 10%) compared with people without these characteristics.