Fifty Plus (50+) - Tia

Monday morning at work my left arm began to feel like I had slept on it for a while and my right cheek also began to tingle or feel numb. I decided to go to the emergency room and get checked out. Dr there thinks it is a Trans Ischemic attack, or mini stroke. Does an EKG, CAT scan and sends me to larger hospital for more tests. I have an MRI to see if there is any carotid artery blockage. I wind up spending two nights in the hospital. Dr says all the tests look good, no damage or blockage. My cholesterol was on the high side, 238. I felt great the whole time. no dizziness or disorientation. After about 18 hours in the hospital I was a little "tense".

I'm 55, ride around 5-8 hrs a week and regularly get my HR over 160, and try to stay above 136. For the last couple of weeks I rode into work, 38 hilly miles, 2 hrs 45 mins. Am I doing enough? Too much? Not enough?

I plan to start taking an aspirin a day, a couple of fish oil tabs, and the niacin and vitamin B I was already taking. The Dr. gave me a scrip for a statin and wants me to come in for a stress test. Since I have a family history of heart disease, I took a stress test 18 months ago and passed with flying colors, in fact they were surprised at how fast my HR dropped after stopping the exercise.

I'm not looking for medical advice, just wondering if I should ramp up my riding or if anyone else has had this.

Its hard to give advice on this kind of thing. I went through the same kind of thing myself, only I did have heavy sweats and dizziness. like you after three days in the hospital they found nothing. My BP went back to normal and they chocked it up to tension from stuff going on with family matters. I had to learn to not let it bother me. Good luck. sometimes stuff happens for no real good reason I guess.

I have a history of heart problems in the family- and I only found this out after a heart attack 13 years ago.

So listen to the doctor- exercise gently and take care.

Riding more is irrelevant. Modify your diet.

Strokes and Sweden has come up with an antidote--Chocolate.

Apparently those who eat an average sized bar of chocolate a week are at less risk of having a stroke. Think I'll upgrade to the American size bar as they are bigger than ours.

So I cannot specifically comment on TIAs (other than to say you are right to take them most seriously), but I recently visited Dr. for an annual physical. Since I had not been able to ramp up my mileage this Spring I complained to him about less energy. He ordered the blood tests but inquired about my riding habits. 10 hrs per week of saddle time, between 100 - 130 mi. He directed me to cut my riding time to 4-5 hrs per week and no intervals. I have cholesterol around 240, 61 yo, normal BP, 10 lbs overweight, 25 yr cyclist.

I bring this up as I think you should ask the Dr. about conditions that correllate (sp?) to the onset of a stroke in someone our age. Family history is definately a warning flag. As mentioned by others "Change the Diet".

Thanks for the replies, I definately like the chocolate idea!

I do think diet plays a big role and while my diet isn't that bad, it could use some work. I'll back down on the mileage until after the stress test.

Does anyone here use red yeast rice? I've had a couple of folks tell me to start taking that.

Thanks again.

Almost nine years ago I had a TIA. I was looking at a memo in my office. I knew there were words on the memo and I knew that they were made of letters, but I had no ability to read the words, even if I said each letter out loud. I was at the hospital within the hour and got the new of a TIA. Since that time, I've been on the 80mg of asprin a day and have had no problems. I must say, it frightened the hell out of me. Follow up with the stress test and carefully consider the options before tossing out your MD's ideas. There is a great deal at stake.

Just to update, had an echocardiogam and a stress test, no problems and the Dr told me to keep doing what I'm doing.

So I'll keep trying to improve my diet, take the simvastatin, aspirin, and supplements.

Remember, Dark Chocolate is the key (http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/nutrition/chocolate.aspx). Milk chocolate is less efficacious!

I've heard that moderation is important. Couldn't prove it by me! ;) My chocoholism is the one thing I actually increased, when I changed the rest of my diet, and my cholesterol (and weight) dropped off like a rock in a measly 3 months...

Getting old is a real pain. I'm now 57, both sides of my family have a LONG history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and stroke. Phooey! I'm going to live to be 100+!

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are often harbingers of permanent ischemic attacks (strokes, or "CVAs"). If you can identify and reduce any personal risk factors for strokes, it would likely be a very good thing for you.

Toss the Asprin. Talk to your Dr. about Rivoroxaban.

What do you all think of grape seed extract? I've heard that it helps.

Take the warriors path and be calm In the knowledge that you will die.

Take care of yourself and go forth into life without fear.

Ride that bike !
Don't push so hard.
You are getting older so remember to relax and read a book now and then.

Remember, Death stalks us all,,,

Now go find a heart specialist and make your health Insurance spend some of that money they have been
taking from you all these years.

Get a full workup, then go eat pasta till It hurts.

Start drinking some red wine every day..

Remember to Laugh hard as often as you can...

Here Endeth The Lesson XD

Riding more is irrelevant. Modify your diet.

A big +1 on that. Best advice on the board.

Toss the Asprin. Talk to your Dr. about Rivoroxaban.
Don't toss the aspirin UNTIL you talk to your doctor. Rivoroxaban is very potent stuff and it is not FDA approved for TIAs unrelated to atrial fibrillation.

Starting in Oc,tober 2010 I had a TIA. My left arm went numb for 45 minutes. Had a brain scan, CT angiogram and a cardio echogram and all of the neuro tests. Didn't find anything. Had 3 more in rapid succession, followed by the usual tests and again nothing on the tests. I started taking an 81mg aspirin after the first one. It has been just over a year since the last TIA and I've been able to get back to normal living.