Have You Ever Experienced Transient Global Amnesia?

Transient global amnesia is a sudden temporary occurrence of memory loss. What happens is that if you suffer from transient global amnesia, you can’t remember recent events. Most incidents will lead you to repeat the same question despite being answered.

Note, with transient global amnesia, you know who you are, and you can recognize people. The condition is quite rare but is harmless. It will most likely not occur again after it happens the first time.  It is characterized by short episodes with it lasting a couple of hours. After that, you regain your memory fully.

You suddenly can’t remember how you got where you are. You certainly can’t remember the answers you’ve been given which makes you ask questions repeatedly.  During the recovery process, you may slowly begin remembering stuff.

This condition mostly affects the middle-aged and the elderly.

Symptoms

For transient global amnesia, it is mainly characterized by a person’s incapability to form new memories. Below are some other signs to diagnose transient global amnesia. They have to be present to confirm that a patient is suffering from the condition.

• Knowing one’s name despite the memory loss
   
• Sudden memory loss which has to be verified by a witness
   
• An absence of any physical damage to particular areas of the body such as the brain
   
• Normal cognition of ordinary objects or ability to follow directions
   
• The condition staying no more than 24 hours or less
   
• No history of epilepsy
   
• No seizures during the amnesia period
   
• The gradual return of memory
   
• Repetitive questioning

Possible action

When you notice your loved one having the above symptoms, seek urgent medical attention. This is the only way to distinguish other serious illnesses that also cause memory loss.

Causes

The primary cause for transient global amnesia is not known. However, there is a slight link to migraines. Also, another possible cause is overfilling veins with blood due to some blockage or venous congestion.

In as much as the primary cause is unknown, there are reported events that have been associated with this condition:

• Strenuous physical activities
   
• Sexual intercourse
   
• Some medical procedures including endoscopy and angiography
   
• Mild head trauma
   
• Prompt immersion in hot or cold water

Another cause could be stress. Stress could be due to the loss of a loved one or having a bad credit score which deters you from accessing loans. However, there are service providers who can give you a personal loan without checking credit. This should help reduce your stress levels to avoid episodes of transient global amnesia.

In most cases, transient global amnesia is likely to occur 4.5 more times in people aged 50 and above than in young adults. However, if you experience migraines, you risk getting transient global amnesia more than people who don’t experience migraines.

This condition should be treated as an emergency. Schedule an emergency appointment and take the affected person to the hospital.
 
How to support the affected person in the hospital

1. Ensure that you stay with the person all through. Take notes as the doctor gives useful information that will help in making the decisions after that.
    
2. Notify the doctor of any emotional or physical events that could have triggered the memory loss such as immense debt.
    
3. Provide the doctor with any previous conditions or diagnoses the person may have received.
    
4. Don’t forget to point out any medication your loved one is taking.
    
5. Since the loved one is not in a position to ask some questions, do so on their behalf. For example, ask about what causes the symptoms, what are the recommended tests? Will it be a full recovery?

Tests to be performed to rule out other illnesses

Memory loss can be due to other conditions such as seizure and stroke. This is why it is crucial for physical examination such as checking reflexes, coordination, and sensory function.

The doctor may also ask questions that will test judgment and thinking.

Imaging and brain tests are also necessary. The doctor may perform an MRI, CT scans or an EEG.
The EEG is necessary mostly to rule out epilepsy in case you have more than one episode of transient global amnesia.
 
Remember, the condition in most cases occurs a maximum of two times.

In the case that you bring the affected person, the doctor will ask some common questions to help understand the occurrences. Some of the questions will be:

• Has the person had seizures since the condition started?
   
• Does the person have a history of migraines?
   
• When did the memory loss start?
   
• Did the person accidentally fall and injure his or her head?
   
• Is there any recent surgery the person underwent?

All of these questions are meant to help the doctor understand what happened precisely to rule out other severe conditions. Transient global amnesia does not need any treatment. As mentioned earlier, the episodes are, and the affected person regains his or her memory fully.

This is a guest blog post.