Glossary terms - T

Takayasu's disease

A rare form of arteritis which is sometimes the cause of stroke, occurring most commonly in younger women aged 20-40. Named after a Japanese ophthalmologist; symptoms may include vision problems, dizziness, fainting, hypertension, muscle aches, weight loss, fever, night sweats.

TeNS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Pain management through a unit which delivers electrical pulses to the painful area, stimulating the sensory nerves and thereby activating natural pain relief mechanisms. Widely used by hospitals and pain clinics throughout the UK.

Thalamus

A part of the brain where the nerves carrying information about sensation from the body join with other nerves.

Thiazide Diuretics

The most commonly prescribed range of diuretics, medicines which turn excess body water into urine, relieving swelling (oedema), improving the heart action and lowering blood pressure. Include bendroflumethiazide.

Thrombolysis

The use of drugs to break up a blood clot, a treatment which can be given to a minority of patients in the acute stage of ischaemic stroke.

Thrombosis

The formation of a blood clot (plural: thromboses).

Tissue Plasminogen Activator (t-PA) or Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rt-PA)

The drug most commonly used for thrombolysis. Safe use depends upon the findings of a diagnostic brain scan, and it must be given within 3 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Magnetic current applied to an area of the brain to promote plasticity and healing.

Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)

A stroke-like event that fully recovers within 24 hours of the start of symptoms.

Type 1 (diabetes)

People with type 1 diabetes produce no insulin. This condition usually appears before the age of 40 and accounts for between 5 per cent and 15 per cent of all diabetes.

Type 2 (diabetes)

People with type 2 diabetes do not always produce enough insulin. This state usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in African Caribbean and South Asian people, it may appear earlier, from the age of 25.