Coutts, S. B. (2017). Diagnosis and Management of Transient Ischemic Attack. Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology , 23 (1), 82.
The article discusses the diagnosis, investigation, as well as recommends the most suitable management after a transient ischemic attack. The article also presents a succinct discussion of making an accurate diagnosis, including mimics of transient ischemic attacks. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is linked with brain dysfunction caused by a reduction in blood flow. It is almost like a stroke but usually lasts for a few minutes and does not cause any permanent damage. It is often referred to as a mini-stroke and may be a warning because approximately 20 percent of people who experience TIA eventually suffer from stroke. Consequently, early diagnosis may prevent severe episodes of stroke.
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Coutts (2017) study is qualitative and draws information from various literature sources. Therefore, it does not include participants. The diagnosis of TIA is mainly clinical; the history of the patient is usually used to establish whether the patient has suffered any symptoms. Neurologic and cardiac examinations are also conducted on all patients suspected to have TIA. One of the most prominent causes of TIA is buildup of cholesterol in an artery that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the brain. The best way to tackle TIA is through prevention, especially by encouraging people to eat healthy diets and exercise frequently.
Topic Reflection
One important concept I have learnt in the course is the role of the nurse in educating the community to prevent illness. For instance, TIA and severe cases of stroke could be prevented if members of the community are educated to adopt healthy lifestyles. One difficult concept is differential diagnosis, especially when diseases share almost the same symptoms. Sometimes a wrong diagnosis can be done because of personal bias or assumptions. One area I need to improve in is working in diverse settings. Therefore, my goal is to volunteer at least in three diverse healthcare settings in one year to gain the experience of working with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Reference
Coutts, S. B. (2017). Diagnosis and Management of Transient Ischemic Attack. Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology , 23 (1), 82.
