What Are the Symptoms of a Silent Stroke?

2025-03-20

What is a silent stroke?

A silent stroke – also known as a silent brain infarction – occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is temporarily blocked, causing damage to brain tissue. The difference from a typical stroke is that it happens without obvious or immediate symptoms. Most people don’t even realize they’ve had one.

Silent strokes are often discovered incidentally during brain scans (such as an MRI) conducted for other reasons. These scans can reveal small areas of brain damage that suggest a stroke has occurred – even if no one noticed it at the time.

What are the symptoms of a silent stroke?

Since silent strokes don’t cause the dramatic symptoms typically associated with strokes – like facial drooping, arm weakness, or speech problems – they’re often missed. However, over time, subtle changes can appear, indicating that the brain has been affected.

Common signs may include:

  • Memory problems or trouble concentrating

  • Mood or personality changes, such as irritability or depression

  • Balance or coordination difficulties

  • Unusual fatigue or mental sluggishness

  • Difficulty finding words or following conversations

  • Mild walking or motor issues

These symptoms tend to develop gradually, making them easy to dismiss as normal aging or stress – but they could be signs that one or more silent strokes have occurred.

Who is at risk?

Silent strokes are more common in older adults, but anyone with certain risk factors can be affected, including:

  • High blood pressure

  • Diabetes

  • Smoking

  • Atrial fibrillation

  • High cholesterol

  • Obesity

  • Sedentary lifestyle

People who’ve had silent strokes are at higher risk of suffering a major stroke in the future – one with clear, potentially life-threatening symptoms.

When should you seek help?

If you or someone close to you experiences any of the signs listed above – especially if they come on gradually and interfere with daily life – it’s important to speak with a doctor. Early detection and treatment of risk factors can help prevent future strokes and reduce complications.

A personal alarm that can be triggered at any time

Sensorem’s personal alarm can automatically trigger the alarm in the event of a fall and then automatically call relatives using the watch’s built-in speakerphone with two-way communication. The user can also trigger the alarm manually by pressing the physical alarm button. The personal alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s position on a map in the Sensorem app.

 

 

 

SENSOREM’S PERSONAL ALARM CAN INCREASE SAFETY AFTER A STROKE