Unlike most strokes, silent strokes don't cause noticeable symptoms but occur when too little oxygen-rich blood reaches the brain due to a blockage in an artery. Silent strokes cause minor brain damage that are limited to areas of the brain that do not control body parts that would typically show symptoms of stroke, such as blurred vision or trouble moving an arm. A silent stroke may affect your concentration, memory, balance, loss of basic muscle movement (including bladder), sudden change in mood or personality, issues with cognitive skills and abilities, and more.
A stroke's signs may appear suddenly, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to act immediately. There are some people who experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling days before they have a serious stroke. Stroke patients experienced mini-stroke symptoms up to a week before they have a major stroke, according to a study.
It is important not to equate the silent stroke's minor brain damage with minimal health risks. Those strokes are a warning to you. According to the American Heart Association, a silent stroke increases your risk of having an asymptomatic stroke.
What can you do to protect yourself?
It's important to get regular checkups and stroke screenings so that problems can be detected early, and treated. Fortunately, strokes can be detected through a simple stroke screening, which is an ultrasound checkup. The ultrasound waves create a picture of the blood vessels in the brain, which can then be checked for blockages. If a blockage is found, treatment can be started immediately to reduce the risk of a stroke. As a result, getting a regular stroke screen can help to prevent strokes and other potentially serious health problems.
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