My patients ask some interesting questions. One of them is, “Can you have a stroke and not know it?”
Although it may be hard to imagine, the answer is yes: you can have a stroke and not know it. In other words, it’s possible to be unaware of a stroke in progress.
Strokes usually occur with warning signs. But unless those signs are dramatic (such as sudden paralysis on one side of the body), you may not recognize the stroke for what it is.
For instance, you might feel dizzy for 20 minutes, but then the situation resolves. You think you’re fine. But you may have just experienced a silent stroke.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke is a cerebrovascular accident that occurs when blood flow is restricted to an area of the brain.
Depending on which area, a patient may experience symptoms ranging from paralysis in a specific body part to memory loss to fluctuating blood pressure.
Although occasionally a brain artery ruptures, most strokes occur when cholesterol builds up as plaque within blood vessels. If the plaque breaks free and moves downstream, it can occlude blood flow and cause a stroke event.
In the case of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), the body may fight back to restore blood flow fairly quickly (either by vasodilation or breaking up the problem plaque), avoiding serious harm to brain tissue. In other cases, the attack on the brain may last longer, with deeper and more lasting damage.
With TIA, a patient may not immediately recognize they’re in mid-stroke or could mistake their symptoms for a less severe ailment.
Treating Stroke
Whenever you experience questionable or unusual symptoms, call 911 for an ambulance directly to the emergency room, preferably within 90 minutes of onset. Hospital staff will admit you with no wait, survey you for stroke damage, and take precautions against further symptoms.
If doctors believe you’ve had a stroke, a surgeon may insert a wire to clear problematic plaque. Or, the surgeon may administer tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a powerful blood thinner, to dissolve brain clots.
The medical community once believed that, when a portion of the brain is lost to stroke, it’s gone forever. But we now know this amazing organ exhibits neuroplasticity — reorganizing and adapting structurally and functionally when needed.
With intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy (and a lot of motivation on the patient’s part), portions of the brain may regain skills that other portions lost.
Avoiding Stroke
Can you have a stroke and not know it? Unfortunately, you can.
Thankfully, preventing strokes is possible. These simple guidelines may help you avoid strokes completely:
- Get good-quality sleep. Healthy sleep patterns support brain health and strong blood vessels.
- Avoid stress. It makes the heart work harder and can lead to blood clots.
- Know your vitals. Know your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc., and manage them through diet and exercise.
- Don’t smoke. It inflames and hardens arteries, restricting blood flow.
Have you had an episode of odd or unprecedented symptoms? There’s never been a better time to consult your Priority Physicians team.
We’ll ensure you receive appropriate prevention for stroke (silent and otherwise), help you with any necessary precautions, and provide answers to all your questions. Get in touch.
