How do I know if I had a second stroke?

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Another Stroke
  1. Sudden trouble with vision from one or both eyes.
  2. Sudden difficulties with walking, coordination, dizziness, and/or balance.
  3. Sudden trouble with speaking, confusion, memory, judgment or understanding.


Can you have a second 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.

Can you tell if you have previously had a stroke?

Wondering how to tell if you had a stroke in the past or how to tell if you had a stroke in your sleep? Unfortunately, most people don't actually find out they've suffered from a silent stroke until they see a doctor for another condition and are ordered to have an MRI or a CT scan.


What can trigger a second stroke?

Not taking your medicine is an important risk factor for repeat stroke. According to one study in patients with coronary artery disease, those patients who took 75 percent or less of their medications as prescribed had a four times higher risk of stroke than patients who took their medications exactly as directed.

How soon can a second stroke happen?

Lack of blood flow to the brain — from a blood clot or blocked vessel — causes ischemic strokes. “Your risk of a second stroke is highest within the first two days,” says neurologist Blake Buletko, MD. “But you remain most vulnerable for up to three months and even up to one year after the first stroke.”


Man focuses on recovery after having second stroke - Medical Minute



How likely is it to suffer a second stroke?

1 in 4 stroke survivors will have another. Yet up to 80% of strokes may be prevented with a combination of medication and healthy habits, such as healthy diet and physical activity, that can have a big impact.

Is second stroke worse than first?

There are significant cognitive and physical disabilities in the second recurrent ischemic stroke as compared to the first-ever one, and the second stroke tend to be more dangerous and carry more disability.

What is the average lifespan after a stroke?

How Does a Stroke Impact Life Expectancy? Despite the likelihood of making a full recovery, life expectancy after stroke incidents can decrease. Unfortunately, researchers have observed a wide range of life expectancy changes in stroke patients, but the average reduction in lifespan is nine and a half years.


What should you not do after a stroke?

Three Things Not to Do When Someone Is Having a Stroke
  1. Do not let that person go to sleep or talk you out of calling 911. Stroke survivors often complain of suddenly feeling very sleepy when a stroke first happens. ...
  2. Do not give them medication, food, or drinks. ...
  3. Do not drive yourself or someone else to the emergency room.


What should you avoid after a stroke?

Things to limit after stroke are:
  • Salt. Too much salt can raise your blood pressure. Read labels and choose lower salt options. ...
  • Sugar. Too much sugar can damage blood vessels. ...
  • Saturated fats. These cause high cholesterol. ...
  • Alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases your risk of having another stroke.


What test can show a previous stroke?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MRI shows brain changes caused by stroke sooner than a CT scan. MRI also can show any bleeding or blood flow problems. It can rule out other problems such as tumors that can cause symptoms similar to a stroke.


Will an old stroke show up on MRI?

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 tests prove you had a stroke?

A brain CT scan can show if there is bleeding in the brain or damage to the brain cells from a stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets and radio waves to create pictures of your brain. An MRI may be used instead of—or in addition to—a CT scan to diagnose a stroke.

Can stress cause a second stroke?

It's known that stress from work is bad for your health, including causing an increase in your risk for cardiovascular disease, particularly high blood pressure and heart disease. If you've wondered specifically if stress can cause a stroke, too, the answer is unfortunately, yes.


What are good signs after a stroke?

Here are seven signs that you are recovering well from a stroke.
  • #1 You Make Your Best Progress Right Away. ...
  • #2 You Are More Independent. ...
  • #3 You Can Cross Your Legs. ...
  • #4 You Find Yourself Sleeping More. ...
  • #5 You Find the Need to Compensate Less with Technique. ...
  • #6 Your Spastic Muscles Are Twitching.


Can doctors tell if you've had a mini stroke?

The only way to tell the difference between a ministroke and a stroke is by having a doctor look at an image of your brain with either a CT scan or an MRI scan. If you've had an ischemic stroke, it's likely that it won't show up on a CT scan of your brain for 24 to 48 hours. An MRI scan usually shows a stroke sooner.

Will you ever be the same after a stroke?

As you begin to recover, you might feel that your behaviour changes or improves. You may start feeling better physically and emotionally. But some changes will be long term. You are still the same person, but a stroke may change the way you respond to things.


What age do most strokes happen?

The majority of strokes occur in people who are 65 or older. As many as 10% of people in the U.S. who experience a stroke are younger than 45. How do the symptoms of stroke in young people differ from those in the older age group?

What is the danger time after a stroke?

The answer is: The first minutes and hours after stroke symptoms first appear are precious. And getting the right care as soon as possible is critical.

How can you prevent a second stroke?

5 ways to prevent a second stroke
  1. Take your medications. Take your medications as instructed by your doctor. ...
  2. Eat a healthy diet. The American Heart Association recommends embracing a Mediterranean diet. ...
  3. Get support. Get support from your family and the community. ...
  4. Don't smoke. ...
  5. Treat other stroke risk factors.


Does a stroke affect you forever?

A stroke can cause permanent loss of function. The long-term effects of stroke depend on which part of the brain was damaged and by how much. Early treatment and rehabilitation after stroke can improve recovery and many people regain a lot of function.

Can a person live 20 years after a stroke?

For ischemic stroke, cumulative 20-year mortality among 30-day survivors was higher in men than in women (33.7% [95% CI, 26.1%-41.3%] vs 19.8% [95% CI, 13.8%-25.9%]).

Can you live after 2 strokes?

Of people who survive a first white stroke, within 1 year 8% will have another one (1), and within 2 years 11% will have a second one (2). In one study, 39% of second strokes were fatal (2).


Is it common to have mini strokes after a stroke?

Transient ischemic attack and minor stroke are highly predictive of a subsequent disabling stroke within hours or days of the first event. The risk of subsequent stroke after a transient ischemic attack is between 2% and 17% within the first 90 days after the initial event.

Can second stroke be cured?

The short answer is yes, stroke can be cured — but it occurs in two stages. First, doctors administer specific treatment to restore normal blood flow in the brain. Then, the patient participates in rehabilitation to cure the secondary effects.