Silent strokes, often ischemic, can cause brain damage and increase the risk of further strokes. Symptoms may be ignored or not noticed, but can be visualized with MRI. Routine brain screening is recommended for those at higher risk.
When people think about stroke, they often visualize a dramatic incident in which a person suddenly shows major signs of brain impairment such as dizziness or the inability to move and speak properly. A very different picture is created with the term silent stroke. When one of these occurs, it may not even go unnoticed or, as has been suggested, the small, less dramatic symptoms are simply ignored.
Stroke occurs when oxygen-rich blood fails to supply all the tissues in the brain. This may be due to a blood clot traveling to the brain (ischaemic) and cutting off blood flow. The accumulation of blood in the head can also cut off the blood supply (hemorrhagic). Stroke symptoms can be very profound and can be noticed immediately. In addition to early symptoms, the longer blood flow is restricted, the more brain cells will die from oxygen loss. This can result in massive changes in the functioning of a number of parts of the brain.
In some circumstances, a silent stroke occurs, which is most often of the ischemic type, where the symptoms aren’t as dramatic, and where the area of the brain damage doesn’t have much to do with the obvious function. Research in this area has certainly shown that a silent stroke causes brain damage, which can have a cumulative effect. Add to this the increased statistical risk of further strokes and these “silent” episodes are still very dangerous.
There has been evidence to suggest that perhaps the silent trait is not completely voiceless. Some people recall symptoms while a stroke occurred such as sudden confusion, loss of coordination, very severe headache, or dizziness. However, when these symptoms disappear quickly, people may ignore their importance and not seek medical attention—a critical step in follow-up treatment and preventative care. Other people have no symptoms at all and therefore don’t know they need to see a doctor. Evidence of the silent stroke and the brain damage it causes can be visualized with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), making diagnosis fairly easy, when and if a person realizes they have had a stroke.
There has been some move to recommend the use of MRI as a preventive or standard diagnostic of silent stroke. This is not always popular due to the expense of these scans. Yet doctors who support routine brain screening point to statistics suggesting older people may have a 7 percent or higher risk of stroke with few symptoms.
While this matter is weighed, it’s always important to take stroke seriously. People at highest risk include those who smoke, have high blood pressure, or have a history of blood clots or atherosclerosis. Those with a history of strokes or transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes) in the past are also at higher risk. A person with these risk factors, especially many of them, should discuss ways to diagnose silent stroke with a doctor. People are also advised to see a doctor if symptoms occur, even if they fade quickly.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
