Are You or a Loved One Suffering from Symptoms of a Silent Stroke?

You’ve learned about the signs of a stroke — sudden difficulty speaking, seeing, walking, and numbness or weakness on one side of the body. These are all dramatic and obvious signs to catch, enabling you to get the help you need quickly.

However, it’s possible to have a stroke and not even know it or remember it happening. Silent cerebral infarction (SCI) is a “silent stroke” that causes brain damage and often leads to a more severe stroke down the road, possibly within the next year. 

Silent strokes are much more common than other recognizable types of strokes. Experts estimate that silent strokes affect 8 to 11 million Americans each year, and The Rotterdam Scan Study found that 25% of brain scans done on 1,077 elderly patients had signs of a stroke, with 80% of those patients not knowing they had suffered one. 

In population-based studies, silent stroke symptoms (silent brain infarcts) on MRIs have shown the following prevalence:

• 8% to 31% for white, Black, and Japanese populations  
• 10.7% to 84% for those aged 53–71 years 
• An increased risk for men and younger Black populations

Additionally, the U.S. stroke rate over the last 30 years has risen steadily in adults ages 49 and younger, particularly those who live in the Midwest and South.

How a Silent Stroke Differs

Just as with other types of strokes, a silent stroke occurs when the blood supply is cut off to part of your brain. The difference is that the part of your brain affected by a silent stroke is too small to hamper the control of your vital brain functions, so symptoms may go unnoticed or be blamed on other health or mental conditions. 

Most people won’t know for sure that they’ve had a silent stroke without an MRI or CT scan picking up on affected small blood vessels, changes in white matter, or lesions. 

Still, symptoms of a silent stroke shouldn’t be ignored. A silent stroke does kill brain cells and tissue and should be caught in order to treat symptoms and prevent another stroke from taking place. It’s not uncommon to suffer several silent strokes before noticing a cumulative neurological effect, even vascular (post-stroke) dementia. In fact, up to one-third of those who suffer from a stroke develop dementia within six months.  

So, what are the signs of a silent stroke? Here’s what might tip you off to the root cause of your symptoms.

10 Silent Stroke Symptoms

A study published by an American Heart Association journal calls signs of a silent stroke the “most common incidental finding on brain scans.” 

Advancements in radiography allow for an in-depth assessment of stroke and its resulting damage to the brain. Clinicians can use that information as a map to recovery—including all the different protocols required to maximize rehabilitation—and to track recovery in post-treatment assessments.

Up to 50% of stroke survivors suffer from motor dysfunction or brain impairment.

Here are 10 signs of a silent stroke you or a loved one may experience suddenly but mildly, and which may last a couple of hours, a few days, or long-term:

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. Mood changes: Are you suddenly irritable, anxious, apathetic, or depressed? Have you found yourself crying or laughing for no obvious reason or at inappropriate times?
4. Psychiatric disorders: Do you have hallucinations or delusions? Have you found yourself engaging in inappropriate motor behavior, like nibbling food at the dinner table or repeatedly banging your head?
5. 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.
6. Movement or walking impairment: Are your toes now catching on the ground when you take steps? Do you tire easily just from walking to your neighbor’s house? Is walking and talking at the same time difficult for you?
7. 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?
8. 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?
9. 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?
10. Vision issues: Does seeing things clearly take concentration? Are you less aware of your surroundings? Are you having double vision? Has your field of vision reduced? 

It’s important to note that these symptoms of silent stroke may also be signs of other medical conditions, so it’s important to speak with your doctor about your concerns and treatment options.

Stop Suffering in Silence: Schedule a Consultation

The truth is, there is no such thing as a silent stroke, as their symptoms are real and can have long-lasting, significant effects on your body and life. And don’t forget, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association advises that silent stroke symptoms “should be treated to prevent a full-blown stroke.” 

Don’t suffer in silence. If you or a family member are showing signs of a silent stroke, there is hope. A customized post-stroke recovery medical program utilizing advanced HBOT techniques helps heal the brain and body, leading to a remarkable recovery and lowered risk of suffering a serious stroke in the future. 

Schedule a complimentary consultation with an Aviv doctor or take a tour of our specialty clinic and get your advanced brain imaging scans to check for symptoms of a silent stroke.