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Takayasu's disease
A rare condition which causes inflammation of the arteries. It can sometimes lead to a stroke and usually affects younger women aged between 20 and 40. Symptoms include visual problems, dizziness, fainting, high blood pressure, muscle aches, weight loss, fever and night sweats.

TeNS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
A small electronic device that delivers electrical pulses providing pain relief. Widely used by hospitals and pain clinics throughout the UK.

Thalamus
A part of the brain. Information about sensation from the body passes though the thalamus before reaching the cortex, the main part of the brain involved in complex tasks.

Thiazide-like diuretics
A type of medication. Diuretics act on the kidneys and help turn excess water in the body into urine. They also lower blood pressure although how exactly they do this is not fully understood. Examples include chlorthalidone and indapamide.

Thrombolysis
An early treatment for some types of strokes caused by a blood clot. Thrombolysis is a procedure that involves being given a drug called recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). This drug breaks down blood clots and so can reverse the damage done by the stroke, but it must be given within four and a half hours of the stroke happening.

Thrombosis
A blood clot that forms in an artery.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
A procedure which involves applying a magnetic current to parts of the brain to promote recovery.

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
A temporary stroke. The symptoms of a TIA are very similar to those of a stroke, but they only last for a short time, sometimes only a few minutes or hours. The person always recovers completely within 24 hours. It is sometimes called a mini stroke.