Could I have had a mini 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.

Can a mini stroke go unnoticed?

Yes. You can have a “silent” stroke, or one you're completely unaware of or can't remember. When we think of strokes, we often think of symptoms like slurred speech, numbness, or loss of movement in the face or body. But silent strokes don't show symptoms like these.

How do you know if you've suffered a mini stroke?

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.

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.

You Can Have a Stroke and Not Recognize the Signs

How do you feel after having a mini stroke?

Feelings of fatigue and tiredness could last for some while afterwards which could make life more difficult to cope with. Some people said that they felt lacking in confidence for some while afterwards, and some were nervous about being left alone or going out alone.

How long can a stroke go unnoticed?

- Warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be evident as early as seven days before an attack and require urgent treatment to prevent serious damage to the brain, according to a study of stroke patients published in the March 8, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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).

Do old strokes show up on MRI?

Although it doesn't cause any obvious symptoms—most people who've had a silent stroke have no idea it occurred—the damage does show up on an MRI or CT scan.

Is a silent stroke the same as a TIA?

A silent stroke differs from a transient ischemic attack (TIA). In TIA symptoms of stroke are exhibited which may last from a few minutes to 24 hours before resolving. A TIA is a risk factor for having a major stroke and subsequent silent strokes in the future.

Did I have a silent stroke?

Unlike events such as a heart attack where there could be obvious signs of discomfort or pain, a silent stroke may include the following symptoms: Sudden lack of balance. Temporary loss of basic muscle movement (bladder included) Slight memory loss.

Did I just have a stroke?

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.

What does a TIA feel like in your head?

dizziness. confusion. difficulty understanding what others are saying. problems with balance and co-ordination.

Do silent strokes show up on MRI?

MRI is best at detecting silent strokes, according to the statement. Its use for brain imaging has gone up dramatically over the years to investigate concerns about memory and cognition, stroke, dizziness, unusual headaches or Parkinson's disease, Gorelick said.

What are the 5 warning signs of a stroke in a woman?

How do you tell if you had a stroke in your sleep?

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.”

What can mimic a TIA?

Should I see a neurologist after a TIA?

Always treat a TIA as seriously as you would a stroke. "Even though the symptoms resolve, there might be damage to the brain, so you need to see a neurologist," Dr. Rost advises.

What can trigger a TIA?

What are the 4 silent signs of a stroke?

A sudden headache, difficulty speaking, balance or vision problems, and numbness on one side of the body—these are the signs of a stroke many of us are familiar with.

What is the fastest way to check for a stroke?

What does a pre stroke feel like?

The warning signs of stroke include: Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. Trouble speaking or understanding. Problems with vision, such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes.

Can you live a normal life after TIA?

In the emergency room, you learned you'd had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. While symptoms went away within several hours, your concern that it could happen again did not. The good news is you absolutely can live a full life after a mini-stroke.

How likely are you to have a stroke after a TIA?

The risk of stroke after transient ischemic attack is somewhere between 2% and 17% within the first 90 days. Among patients with transient ischemic attack, one in five will have a subsequent stroke (the most common outcome), a heart attack or die within one year.