The key difference between TIA and seizure is that TIA is due to the decreased blood flow to the cerebrovascular system, while seizure is due to the aberrant electrical discharges involving the cerebral cortex.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and seizure are two conditions that involve the brain. They may be characterized by problems controlling physical movements. They are also involved in unexpected brain episodes or attacks. A transient ischemic attack is a transient stroke that lasts only for a few minutes. After a TIA, the damaged area of the brain forms scar tissue, and this tissue may begin sending out abnormal electrical signals. These abnormal electrical signals may trigger seizures. Therefore, a seizure can be a symptom of TIA.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is TIA
3. What is a Seizure
4. Similarities – TIA and Seizure
5. TIA vs Seizure in Tabular Form
6. Summary – TIA vs Seizure
What is TIA?
TIA is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to a part of the brain. This blockage usually happens due to a blood clot that is formed elsewhere in the body and travels to the blood vessels supplying the blood to the brain. It is also known as a mini-stroke. TIA can cause sudden symptoms that are very similar to a stroke – for example, speech and visual disturbance and numbness or weakness in the arms, legs, and face. However, TIA does not last as long as a regular stroke. TIA is different from a stroke because its effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours. TIA is triggered by blood clots, hemorrhage, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol levels, regularly drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes.
Moreover, TIA can be diagnosed through physical examination, carotid ultrasonography, computerized tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and arteriography. Furthermore, TIA can be treated through medications to reduce blood clots, surgeries like carotid endarterectomy and angioplasty, and lifestyle changes.
What is a Seizure?
Seizure is a condition due to aberrant electrical discharges involving the cerebral cortex. A seizure can cause changes in the behavior, movements, feeling, or consciousness of the person. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart without apparent cause is normally considered epilepsy. The sign and symptoms of a seizure include temporary confusion, a staring spell, uncontrollable jerking movements of arms and legs, loss of consciousness, anxiety, fear, or deja vu. Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures. The other causes include high fever, lack of sleep, flashing lights, hyponatremia, medications (pain relievers, antidepressants), head trauma, abnormalities in blood vessels in the brain, systematic lupus, stroke, brain tumors, use of illegal drugs, alcohol misuse, and COVID 19 infection.
A seizure can be diagnosed through neurological examination, blood tests, lumber puncture, electroencephalogram, and imaging testing (CT scan, MRI, PET scan, and SPECT scan). Furthermore, a seizure can be treated with medications (cannabidiol), dietary therapy, and surgery (lobectomy, multiple subpial transection, corpus callosotomy, hemispherectomy, and thermal ablation).
What are the Similarities Between TIA and Seizure?
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and seizure are two conditions that involve the brain.
- Both conditions may be characterized by problems controlling physical movements.
- These conditions may also involve unexpected brain episodes or attacks.
- A seizure can be present as a symptom of a transient ischemic attack
- They are treated through specific medications and surgeries.
What is the Difference Between TIA and Seizure?
TIA is a condition occurring due to the decreased blood flow to the cerebrovascular system, while seizure is a condition occurring due to the aberrant electrical discharges involving the cerebral cortex. Thus, this is the key difference between TIA and seizure. Furthermore, the causes of TIA include blood clots, hemorrhage, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol levels, regularly drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes. On the other hand, the causes of seizures include epilepsy, high fever, lack of sleep, flashing lights, hyponatremia, medications (pain relievers, antidepressants), head trauma, abnormalities in blood vessels in the brain, systematic lupus, stroke, brain tumors, use of illegal drugs, alcohol misuse and COVID 19 infection.
The below infographic presents the differences between TIA and seizure in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – TIA vs Seizure
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and seizure are two medical conditions in the brain. They have similar characteristics, such as problems controlling physical movements. TIA is a condition due to the decreased blood flow to the cerebrovascular system, while seizure is a condition due to the aberrant electrical discharges involving the cerebral cortex. So, this summarizes the difference between transient ischemic attack (TIA) and seizure.
Reference:
1. “Transient ischaemic attack (TIA).” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Seizures.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Types of Stroke” By Scientific Animations (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Spike-waves” (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia