— TIA stands for "transient ischemic attack", but they're more commonly known as "ministrokes". The difference between a TIA and a stroke is almost entirely in the duration; the blockage of a TIA lasts very briefly and causes no permanent damage, while the blockage of a stroke lasts much longer and is highly likely to result in permanent damage, if not death. The underlying cause of atherosclerosis is the same in both, however, meaning that about a third of all people who experience a single TIA will have a stroke within the year.