What is the difference between a TIA and a silent stroke?

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.


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.


How can you tell the difference between a stroke and a TIA?

You can't tell the difference between the two, and a TIA increases your risk of stroke." Up to 30% of TIA patients may have a stroke in the three months following a TIA,” Dr. Schrock said. “I always recommend that you call 911 and get checked out.”


Is a silent stroke serious?

Silent Doesn't Mean Harmless

While silent strokes often pass undetected, the damage they cause can be quite noticeable. Once you suffer from a silent stroke, your chances of suffering from more strokes in the future increase. The damage caused to the brain can result in significant cognitive decline or even death.

How can I tell if I've had a TIA?

Symptoms
  • 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.
  • Vertigo or loss of balance or coordination.


TIAs or mini strokes - what are the signs?



How do doctors rule out TIA?

An MRI scan is most often used. This type of scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create an image of your brain.

What can trigger a TIA?

Causes of a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
  • smoking.
  • high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • obesity.
  • high cholesterol levels.
  • regularly drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.
  • having a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
  • having diabetes.


Does silent stroke show up on MRI?

During a silent stroke, an interruption in blood flow destroys areas of cells in a part of the brain that is "silent," meaning that it doesn't control any vital functions. Although the damage will show up on an MRI or CT scan, it's too small to produce any obvious symptoms.


Should you go to hospital after silent stroke?

If you're experiencing any of the symptoms of a stroke, get immediate medical attention. If you aren't having stroke symptoms but you're at risk for a silent stroke, see your doctor. They can help you develop a plan for reducing your risk factors and preventing a stroke.

How do you test for silent stroke?

If you have a silent stroke, you probably won't know it unless you happen to have a brain scan and the damage shows up. You may have slight memory problems or a little difficulty getting around. A doctor may be able to see signs of silent strokes without testing.

Can a neurologist tell if you had a TIA?

Neurologists were more likely to diagnose transient ischemic attack based on clinical features including negative symptoms or speech deficits.


Can the hospital tell if you have had a TIA?

Symptoms can be caused by other problems, so the specialist doctor or nurse will listen carefully to you and confirm if you've had a TIA. You may have a brain scan, but not everyone needs a scan. You'll have tests for health problems linked to stroke, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

What is the most common cause of TIAs?

Most TIAs result from narrowing of the major arteries to the brain, such as the carotid arteries. These blood vessels provide oxygenated blood to brain cells. These arteries can become clogged with fatty deposits, called plaques. Plaques partially block the artery, and can lead to the formation of a blood clot.

What is the treatment for a silent stroke?

If a person has a brain scan and their doctor detects one or multiple silent strokes, they may prescribe medications. For instance, blood thinning medications can help to lower blood pressure, and cholesterol medications can help to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.


Why do silent stroke happen?

A silent stroke is most often caused by reduced blood flow in one of the smaller arteries that feed the brain. It can occur without noticeable symptoms if it affects a part of the brain that doesn't control major movements or vital functions.

Why did I have 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.

How likely is a second stroke?

Even after surviving a stroke, you're not out of the woods, since having one makes it a lot more likely that you'll have another. In fact, of the 795,000 Americans who will have a first stroke this year, 23 percent will suffer a second stroke.


Can you drive after a silent stroke?

If you drive a car or motorbike and you had a single transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke with no brain surgery or seizures, you can usually start driving again after one calendar month.

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.

Can stress cause a silent stroke?

Blood pressure also tends to increase when you're stressed and when blood pressure is consistently high, it can narrow or weaken blood vessels. This makes it easier for blood clots to form or for vessels to leak or burst, triggering a stroke.


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.

Can silent strokes cause dementia?

Strokes that block a brain artery usually cause a range of symptoms that may include vascular dementia. But some strokes don't cause any noticeable symptoms. These silent strokes still increase dementia risk.

What are the 5 warning signs of a mini-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.


Does having a TIA mean you will have a stroke?

TIAs are often an early warning sign that a person is at risk of stroke. About 1 in 3 people who has a TIA goes on to experience a subsequent stroke. The risk of stroke is especially high within 48 hours after a TIA .

What should you do immediately 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.