Can you have a small stroke and not know it?

Some people have strokes without realizing it. They're called silent strokes, and they either have no easy-to-recognize symptoms, or you don't remember them. But they do cause permanent damage in your brain. If you've had more than one silent stroke, you may have thinking and memory problems.
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How can you tell if you've had a mini stroke?

The signs and symptoms of a TIA resemble those found early in a stroke and may include sudden onset of: Weakness, numbness or paralysis in the face, arm or leg, typically on one side of the body. Slurred or garbled speech or difficulty understanding others. Blindness in one or both eyes or double vision.
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What are the signs of a silent stroke?

Silent Stroke Symptoms
  • Sudden lack of balance.
  • Temporary loss of basic muscle movement (bladder included)
  • Slight memory loss.
  • Sudden changes in mood or personality.
  • Issues with cognitive skills and ability.
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What happens if a mini stroke goes untreated?

Even if a major stroke is avoided, repeated mini strokes can have a cumulative negative effect on one's brain health and cognitive function. In severe cases, vascular dementia may result from untreated cerebrovascular events.
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What triggers a mini-stroke?

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or "mini stroke" is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain. The disruption in blood supply results in a lack of oxygen to the brain.
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Can You Have a Stroke and Not Know it?



Can a blood test show a mini-stroke?

There is no blood test that can diagnose a stroke. However, in the hospital, your doctor or nurse may do a series of blood tests to learn the cause of your stroke symptoms: Complete blood count (CBC).
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Can doctors tell if you had a stroke in the past?

Usually, a silent stroke is discovered unexpectedly on a brain CT or brain MRI. These imaging tests can easily distinguish past strokes from recent strokes.
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How can you test for a stroke at home?

How to Spot a Stroke: 5 Sure Signs and 4 Life-Saving Letters
  1. They are common. ...
  2. They are preventable. ...
  3. F = Face — Ask the person to smile. ...
  4. A = Arms — Ask the person to raise both arms. ...
  5. S = Speech — Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. ...
  6. T = Time — If the person failed any part of the test, note the time and get help.
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What do you do after a mini stroke?

Seek treatment immediately. The main takeaway is that a mini stroke, no matter how quickly it seems to resolve, is a medical emergency. If you have experienced mini stroke symptoms, your brain was starved of oxygen for a period of time and was not functioning properly when that happened.
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Did I just have a stroke?

Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
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How do you rule out a TIA?

Tests
  1. Blood pressure tests. Your blood pressure will be checked, because high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to TIAs.
  2. Blood tests. You might need blood tests to check whether you have high cholesterol or diabetes.
  3. Electrocardiogram (ECG) ...
  4. Carotid ultrasound. ...
  5. Brain scans.
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Are mini strokes serious?

You might be having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), commonly referred to as a “mini stroke.” Don't let the word “mini” fool you: transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are a serious condition warning you that a larger stroke may be coming- and soon.
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Do mini strokes show up on MRI?

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred and most sensitive modality after transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. It should include diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and should be completed within 24 hours of symptom onset1,2; its use is 3-fold.
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What does a stroke feel like in your head?

For instance, some individuals may feel pain in their head due to a headache. Others may not feel any physical sensations but may struggle to speak, which can lead to emotions of panic and confusion.
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How do you rule out a stroke?

Strokes are usually diagnosed by doing physical tests and studying images of the brain produced during a scan.
  1. A blood test to find out your cholesterol and blood sugar level.
  2. checking your pulse for an irregular heartbeat.
  3. taking a blood pressure measurement.
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Can you recover from a mild stroke?

Because mild strokes do not typically cause major impairments, recovery is usually fast. Sometimes recovery from a mild stroke can occur within 3-6 months. Other times it can take longer. There are many variables that affect the time it takes to recover.
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Do mini strokes show up on CT scans?

You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not. You may have an angiogram, CT angiogram, or MR angiogram to see which blood vessel is blocked or bleeding. You may have an echocardiogram if your doctor thinks you may have a blood clot from the heart.
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What happens in the first 3 days after a stroke?

During the first few days after your stroke, you might be very tired and need to recover from the initial event. Meanwhile, your team will identify the type of stroke, where it occurred, the type and amount of damage, and the effects. They may perform more tests and blood work.
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What is a mild stroke?

Mild strokes are often an early warning sign of a regular stroke. Mild strokes are usually quick, occurring when there is a brief blockage of blood flow to the brain. Mild stroke symptoms are similar to those of a regular stroke but last for only a few minutes up to 24 hours.
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What exactly is a silent stroke?

A silent stroke refers to a stroke that doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms. Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching that area, causing nearby brain cells to die.
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What causes stroke like symptoms but is not a stroke?

“Under the age of 50, most stroke mimics are migraines, epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis or high blood pressure that causes swelling in the brain,” he said. “Over the age of 50, most patients experiencing a stroke mimic are the result of epilepsy, metabolic derangement or a mass lesion in the brain.”
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What is the life expectancy after a mini stroke?

At one year after hospitalization, 91.5 percent of TIA patients were still living, compared to 95 percent expected survival in the general population. At five years, survival of TIA patients was 13.2 percent lower than expected -- 67.2 percent were still alive, compared to an expected survival of 77.4 percent.
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How long can you live after a mild stroke?

In the 65- to 72-year age group 11% survived 15 years after stroke. In the age group <65 years 28% survived 15 years. For all age groups survival was poorer in stroke patients than in non-stroke controls. Long-term survival improved steadily over time.
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Can you live a normal life after a mini stroke?

The good news is you absolutely can live a full life after a mini-stroke. Here's how. Like strokes, mini-strokes occur when a blockage occurs in a major artery to your brain, disrupting the flow of blood and oxygen. The difference is in a mini-stroke, the disruption lasts only minutes, so there's no permanent damage.
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What mimics a TIA?

Frequent causes of transient neurological symptoms that can mimic TIA include: Migraine aura. Seizure. Syncope. Functional or anxiety related.
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