The National Stroke Association, Centennial, Colo, and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Conn, have partnered for Talk About TIA!, a new educational initiative aimed at raising awareness of an under-recognized but serious health risk—transient ischemic attack (TIA).

One in 20 people who experience a TIA are expected to suffer a stroke within 2 days. Talk About TIA! is a comprehensive and interactive online resource for people to learn about TIA, the link between TIA and stroke, and how to help reduce the risk of stroke following a TIA.

“Suffering a TIA is one of the most significant warnings that a stroke may occur, and knowing about TIA can be crucial to help reduce your risk of suffering a stroke,” says James Baranski, CEO, National Stroke Association. “TalkAboutTIA.com is a much-needed resource that can help millions become more familiar with this important health warning and encourage them to take action and call 911 immediately if they’ve experienced a TIA. Steps like these can help reduce their risk of suffering a potentially devastating stroke.”

TIA affects more than 240,000 Americans annually, but many don’t realize they’ve had one. TIAs can be difficult to recognize and are often dismissed as minor, temporary discomforts because they happen quickly and last less than a day—in fact, most last less than 5 minutes. Approximately half of those who experience a TIA fail to report it to their health care providers, and although studies may vary, up to 20%  will suffer a stroke within 90 days, with the highest risk within the first 30 days following the TIA. Symptoms of TIA are similar to those of stroke but are less severe and generally do not cause permanent brain injury. Stroke is the leading cause of chronic adult disability in the United States—nearly 70% of stroke survivors will be left with some type of disability, which may include paralysis, vision problems, speech or language problems and memory loss.

The Web site’s features include descriptions of common risk factors, interactive body symptoms map, and downloadable checklists to aid discussions with physicians about how to reduce the risk of stroke, including lifestyle changes and medical treatment when necessary. The site also includes personal stories from TIA survivors and e-postcards that visitors to the site can send to share what they learn about TIA and encourage those who may be at risk to speak with their doctors.

[Source: [removed][removed][removed]Boehringer Ingelheim[/removed][/removed][/removed]]