How To Help My Girlfriend Through A TIA (mini Stroke

Posted on Thu, 30 Jul 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : How to help my girlfriend through a TIA (mini stroke) ? she is 29, in great health, but as a result of her birth control she had a TIA yesterday. She was just discharged from the hospital today. What i'm reading online is scaring me. What can I do to help prevent a full stroke? Is this going to affect her lifespan?

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed work up should be done.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting your query.

I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and would try my best to help you.

I have noted the clinical details of your girlfriend. Birth control pills are known to increase the risk of stroke. So, it should be stopped. However, we find multiple causes for strokes in many young people. So, she needs detailed evaluation to find out if she has any other risk factor for stroke. This would include

1. MRI with MR venogram/Angiogram of brain

2. Lipid profile, HbA1C, Homocysteine

3. Echocardiogram

4. Thrombophilia profile- Protein C, Protein S, anti thrombin III

If any risk factors are identified, she would need treatment for that too.

I sincerely hope my reply has helped you.

I would be pleased to answer, if you have any follow up queries or if you require any further information.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX
For DIRECT QUERY to me: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My blog: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.com/

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (8 hours later)

Hi, yes, she was in the hospital and had those tests done. Many of them came back normal.

My question is specifically, what supplements, lifestyle changes, etc can we do to help prevent any further issues?

Is L-Arginine a good option?

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Nothing specific

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.

No specific medicines are needed, if all tests are normal.

1. Avoid birth control pills in future,

2. Regular exercises- 30 to 60 minutes per day (walking/running/cycling, etc)

3. Regular sleep- 7-8 hours per night,

4. Avoid stress/tension

5. Low fat/low oil diet,

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar