Is it possible to have a silent stroke?
I've heard about silent heart attacks, but is it possible to suffer a stroke and be unaware of it as well?
Indeed, this is possible. According to a joint statement made by the American Stroke Association and the American Heart Association, up to a quarter of octogenarians may have had one or more strokes without experiencing symptoms. These episodes are frequently noticed only after a person has brain imaging for another reason.
How did this happen? A silent stroke is most frequently caused by decreased blood flow in one of the brain's smaller arteries. It may go unnoticed if it affects a portion of the brain that is not responsible for large motions or vital functions. This means that it will not cause classic stroke symptoms such as the arm or leg paralysis or impaired speech. Additionally, a silent stroke may manifest symptoms that you wrongly ascribe to something else, such as common clumsiness or unexpected memory lapses. As with preventing major strokes, addressing cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure reduces the likelihood of silent strokes.
