Silent Strokes Take a Toll

It's possible to have a stroke and not realize it
immediately. So it's wise to know the signs. But what if a stroke occurred and
you didn't even notice?

A new study found that nearly 11% of people who thought they were healthy
actually had some brain damage from a "silent" stroke. Silent strokes
are true strokes but don't result in any noticeable symptoms. People who have
had a silent stroke are at higher risk for subsequent strokes and for an
accelerated loss of mental skills.

Researchers, led by Rohit Das, MD, from Boston University's School of
Medicine, reviewed MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans from 2,040 people
participating in the Framingham Study, an ongoing study examining the
relationship between risk factors and subsequent cardiovascular events. The MRI
scans were reviewed for evidence of stroke. The average age of the participants
was 62; most were of European ancestry. None of the participants had a history
of stroke or stroke-type symptoms.

The study also examined whether people who had silent strokes had more
concentrated levels of cholesterol in their blood and
more extensive thickening in the carotid arteries, the main arteries that
supply the head and neck with blood.

Here are the main results from routine MRI scans:

• Nearly 11% of participants who showed no overt sign of stroke had suffered
  some brain damage from a silent stroke.


• People who had an irregular heartbeat , also known
  as atrial fibrillation , were more
  likely to have had a silent stroke.


• Having high blood pressure
  (hypertension) was associated with a greater chance of having a silent
  stroke.


• Elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood
  "significantly" increased participants' chances of having a silent
  stroke.

Stroke Risk Factors

• Older age


• Having diabetes


• Having high blood pressure


• Being a smoker


• Having heart disease

"This is especially true since (silent strokes) have been associated
with an increased risk of incident stroke and cognitive impairment,"
Seshadri says.

Stroke Facts

A stroke is brain damage that is caused by a blocked blood vessel or
bleeding in the brain.

Here are the most common stroke
symptoms , according to the CDC:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the arms, legs, or face, especially on one
  side.


• Quick onset of blurred vision in one or both eyes.


• Difficulty walking, dizziness , or loss of balance
  or coordination.


• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking.


• Sudden severe headache with no known
  cause.

By Kelley Colihan
Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas
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