Silent Stroke Warning: Silent stroke damages the brain without any major symptoms, the risk of amnesia also increases.

Symptoms such as paralysis, difficulty speaking or weakness in any part of the body are commonly associated with stroke. But do you know that sometimes stroke can occur even without any obvious symptoms? In medical language it is called “silent stroke” or “silent brain infarct”. This condition is usually detected when it shows signs on an MRI scan done for other reasons, such as headache. Although this type of stroke does not cause immediate paralysis, it can lead to dementia, memory loss, and an increased risk of major strokes in the future. According to Dr. Ritu Jha (Director and HOD, Neurology, Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad), silent stroke should never be taken lightly.

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This indicates that small blood vessels in the brain are being affected, increasing the risk of serious neurological problems in the future. Let us know what silent stroke is, what are its symptoms and what can be done to avoid it.

What is silent brain infarct?
Dr. Ritu explains that when blood flow stops for some time in a small part of the brain, the cells in that part start getting damaged. If this damage occurs in a place where there are no immediately visible symptoms, the patient may not even know that he has had a stroke. This condition is called “silent brain infarct”. Although the patient may feel normal, over time, many such small strokes can damage the brain’s ability to function.

Who is most at risk?

Experts say that people with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease or irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), as well as those who smoke or use tobacco, those at risk due to genetic factors and people above 60 years of age are at higher risk of silent stroke.

How is this detected through MRI?
Silent brain infarcts are usually diagnosed with an MRI scan. Often, a patient gets this test for reasons like headache or dizziness, and then it is discovered that he or she had previously suffered a small stroke. This test can also show areas of the brain where blood flow was previously blocked.

Does this increase the risk of dementia?
Dr. Ritu explains that if many silent strokes occur over time, the brain cells continue to deteriorate. This may increase the risk of vascular dementia. Therefore, it is very important to control the risk factors when a silent stroke is diagnosed. According to him, controlling the risk factors in time and getting proper treatment can significantly reduce the risk of serious stroke and memory related problems in future.

How can this be stopped?

According to experts, to avoid silent stroke, it is important to keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels under control. One should avoid smoking and tobacco, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, get adequate sleep and take medicines regularly as per the doctor’s advice. People who are at high risk of stroke should get regular health checkups done.