The decision follows a visit to physicians Tuesday, when the former prime minister, 76, awoke feeling ill. At that time, she reportedly canceled her engagements for several days based on medical recommendations, but did not check into a hospital.
Thatcher had suffered a series of small strokes in recent months, her office said in a statement. Her daughter Carol last month told British Broadcasting Corp. they were "very, very minor" and she was concerned but "not desperately worried."
After examinations and testing since Tuesday's incident, however, Thatcher's doctors have decided to make Tuesday's recommendation permanent.
"Her doctors have told her that these can neither be predicted nor prevented," her office said in a statement. "They have therefore told her to cut back her program at once and in particular to avoid the undue strain that public speaking places on her.
"With great regret, she has decided to abide by this advice and to cancel all her speaking engagements," the brief statement concludes.
Thatcher had recently re-emerged in the limelight with her new book, "Statecraft," in which she argues Britain should reassess its position within the European Union, even consider renegotiating a more distant relationship.
Thatcher, the first woman to hold the position of prime minister in Britain, held the office for 11 years until 1990. Known as the Iron Lady, she helped revive conservatism worldwide and combat communism, along with President Ronald Reagan.
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