3. Triggers of TGA: The Precipitating Factors
Transient Global Amnesia doesn’t happen out of the blue. The episodes often have triggers, specific circumstances or actions that precede the onset of symptoms. Understanding these triggers can provide insights into this perplexing condition, even though it doesn’t prevent or predict future episodes.
In many cases, TGA episodes follow physically strenuous activities. It could be something as intense as lifting heavy weights or as mundane as bending over. The strain involved in these activities somehow provokes the onset of an episode.
Another category of triggers relates to emotional stress. Severe emotional upheaval or acute anxiety can act as a catalyst for TGA. It’s as though the brain’s response to high stress somehow overlaps with the mechanisms that induce transient amnesia.
Temperature extremes have also been identified as triggers. A sudden plunge into cold water or a swift transition from a warm interior to a freezing outdoor environment can kickstart a TGA episode. The abrupt shock to the system seems to disorient the memory circuits momentarily.
Medical procedures involving local or general anesthesia can also induce TGA in some instances. While the exact mechanism is unclear, the altered state of consciousness due to anesthesia may have some connection to the temporary memory loss experienced during TGA. (3)
