Comment on this storyTransient ischemic attacks, or TIAs, should no longer be thought of as mere “mini-strokes,” but rather harbingers of a bigger stroke to come, according to the American Heart Association.

The condition occurs when a temporary blockage of blood to the brain produces strokelike symptoms that swiftly resolve.

Providers should look into symptoms and medical history, then conduct a CT scan to rule out conditions that can mimic TIA.

Rural and underserved hospitals without on-site neurologists or with limited access to imaging should participate in telemedicine networks that connect providers to one another and transfer patients to hub hospitals for imaging or arrange for outpatient MRIs, the guidance states.

“Incorporating these steps for people with suspected TIA may help identify which patients would benefit from hospital admission, versus those who might be safely discharged from the emergency room with close follow-up,” said Hardik P. Amin, an associate professor of neurology who chaired the association’s scientific statement writing committee, in the news release.

TIAs share the same symptoms as strokes: facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, dizziness.