What’s scarier than having a life-changing medical emergency?” AARP Magazine asks. “Having one and not knowing it. That’s the case with what’s known as a silent stroke.”
What is a silent stroke?
A silent stroke is a brain injury caused by a blocked blood vessel. It differs from what we typically think of a stroke which is a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke which involves bleeding in the brain. These types typically exhibit symptoms—slurred speech, a drooping face, or weakness in your arm among others—that indicate a stroke is in progress and that you need to make a beeline for a hospital emergency room. Silent strokes, however, have no easy-to-recognize symptoms at the time they occur. In fact, they are usually only discovered by accident on a brain scan like an MRI or CT scan that’s done for other reasons. Despite the lack of immediate symptoms, they can cause permanent brain tissue damage and lead to more severe strokes and even dementia.
Silent strokes are more common than most people realize. According to the American Stroke Association, on average, ten silent strokes happen for every stroke with noticeable symptoms. Those at the highest risk for silent strokes are older adults, people with atrial fibrillation, smokers, and those who have a history of vascular disease.
What are the subtle symptoms of a silent stroke?
“There are 10 signs of a silent stroke you or a loved one may experience,” according to Aviv Clinics a Florida medical facility specializing in brain and body performance. ”Depending on the sign, these may last a couple of hours, a few days, or even persist long-term.”
“However, the symptoms of silent stroke may mimic signs of other medical conditions, making them complex to recognize. Be sure to speak with your doctor about any concerns you may have. Following are symptoms you should be aware of:
- A lapse in (or loss of) short-term memory: Do you have to ask someone to repeat instructions they just told you, but still remember details from a conversation you had last month? Is there a day or activity you had recently that you simply don’t remember, even with prompts?
- A decreased ability to think or reason: Have you given up on a game you used to love playing, like Sudoku or crossword puzzles? Do you find yourself frustrated or arguing more because you don’t understand someone else’s reasons for wanting you to do something?
- Mood changes: Are you suddenly irritable, anxious, apathetic, or depressed? Have you found yourself crying or laughing for no apparent reason or at inappropriate times?
- Psychiatric disorders: Do you have hallucinations or delusions? Have you engaged in inappropriate motor behavior, like repeatedly banging your head?
- Trouble with balance: Are you experiencing dizziness or feeling like your head is spinning? Is it difficult to make quick adjustments to maintain balance? Do you find yourself stumbling or bumping into things? Does it feel like you’re standing upright when in fact, you’re leaning to one side?
- Movement or walking impairment: Are your toes now catching on the ground when you take steps? Do you get tired quickly just from walking to your neighbor’s house? Is walking and talking at the same time difficult for you?
- Limb clumsiness: Does it take concentration to control your hand motions? Is it tricky to type even though you’re normally very proficient? Do you have a shaky leg? Are you noticing a decrease in hand-eye coordination?
- Incontinence: Do you feel the urge to urinate more often than usual? Are you consciously or unconsciously leaking urine or stool during the day or while asleep at night? Is it difficult to empty your bladder completely?
- Headaches or migraines: Are you having more headaches or migraines than usual? Or are you getting long-term, persistent headaches? Have your headaches become severe enough to disrupt your daily activities?”
What’s the treatment for a silent stroke and how are they prevented?
Since silent strokes are almost always diagnosed well after the fact, treatment usually focuses on managing risk factors for a subsequent stroke. Any type of stroke, silent or otherwise, raises your risk for another one,” observes Mitchell Elkind, M.D., chief science officer for brain health and stroke at the American Heart Association.
Hera Kamdar, M.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, Division of Cerebrovascular Disease and Neurocritical Care, at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center advise that “[y]ou can help prevent a silent stroke by doing all the things you’d do to reduce your chances of having any kind of stroke. That includes giving up cigarettes if you smoke, keeping blood pressure levels in the healthy range and managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising are important as well.
Granted, there’s not a lot you can do about genetic risk factors, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle goes a long way toward reducing your overall risk for stroke.”
“Control of risk factors, especially high blood pressure, is the best way to prevent strokes large and small, prevent cognitive decline associated with aging and preserve brain health,” Dr. Elkind states.
