Every year on October 29, the world comes together to mark World Stroke Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery. In 2024, the theme is "Harnessing the emotional power of sport to be #GreaterThanstroke", spotlighting the inspiring strength and resilience of stroke survivors. This year's campaign seeks to create a global movement by sharing powerful stories of hope and determination from the stroke community, showcasing how sport, in its many forms, can fuel recovery, empower individuals, and help them defy the challenges posed by stroke. 
Also Read: World Stroke Day 2023: Significance, Theme And Preventive Checklist To Follow
While many are familiar with the more severe and immediate effects of a stroke, there is another type that often goes unnoticed yet can be equally damaging—a silent stroke. This year, as we focus on improving global stroke awareness, it is vital to shed light on silent strokes, how they occur, and most importantly, how they can be prevented.
Also Read: World Stroke Day 2021: Learn How To Spot Early Warning Signs Of Stroke
What Is A Silent Stroke?
A silent stroke, as its name implies, doesn’t present with the dramatic and recognizable symptoms of a typical stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness, or slurred speech. Silent strokes medically termed as “Asymptomatic cerebral infarction” occur when the blood supply to a small part of the brain is interrupted, but the event doesn't cause any immediate, noticeable symptoms. This interruption leads to damage in brain cells, often without the person even realising it.
Unlike regular strokes, where the effects are usually visible right away, a silent stroke’s damage can accumulate over time, leading to issues like memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or even subtle physical impairments. Multiple silent strokes can significantly increase the risk of more serious neurological conditions, such as vascular dementia or major strokes.
How Does a Silent Stroke Happen?
Just like a regular stroke, a silent stroke occurs due to a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain. This can be caused by a blood clot or fatty deposits (plaque) that build up in the arteries. These blockages prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching areas of the brain, causing brain cells in that region to die.
The difference with silent strokes is that the affected areas of the brain are typically smaller or located in regions that do not immediately control critical functions like movement or speech, making them harder to detect without a medical diagnosis, such as an MRI.
Risk Factors for Silent Stroke
The risk factors and causes of silent strokes are quite similar to those of symptomatic strokes. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for prevention:
High Blood Pressure: This is the leading cause of both silent and major strokes. Elevated pressure in the arteries can damage the brain’s blood vessels, increasing the chance of blockages.
Diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk of damage to blood vessels and arteries, making strokes more likely.
High Cholesterol: Elevated levels of cholesterol contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, which can eventually lead to blockages.
Smoking: Smoking damages the blood vessels and raises blood pressure, significantly increasing the risk of stroke.
Heart Disease: Conditions like atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) can cause blood clots that lead to strokes.
Obesity: Excess weight, especially around the abdomen, is closely linked to an increased risk of strokes due to associated conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Age and Gender: While silent strokes can happen at any age, the risk increases with age. Men are more likely to have strokes, but women tend to have more severe outcomes.
Symptoms of Silent Stroke
Although silent strokes don’t cause the sudden, noticeable signs typical of major strokes, over time, they can still result in damage that affects the brain’s function. Some potential warning signs that a silent stroke may have occurred include:
- Memory problems or confusion
- Unexplained balance issues
- Sudden mood changes
- Difficulty with coordination
If multiple silent strokes occur over time, the cumulative damage can lead to more serious neurological issues, including vascular dementia.
How To Prevent Silent Stroke?
While silent strokes may not present immediate symptoms, their long-term impact on brain health can be severe. The good news is that many of the risk factors for silent strokes are modifiable through lifestyle changes.
Here are some effective ways and lifestyle tips to reduce the risk:
Monitor Blood Pressure: Keep your blood pressure within a healthy range through regular check-ups, medication if necessary, and lifestyle changes.
Manage Diabetes: Control blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, and medication to reduce vascular damage.
Lower Cholesterol: Eat a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, and incorporate fiber-rich foods.
Quit Smoking: Avoid tobacco use to improve blood vessel health and reduce stroke risk.
Exercise Regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days to strengthen the heart and improve circulation.
Follow a Healthy Diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting salt and processed foods.
Take Medications as Directed: Follow your healthcare provider's advice for managing conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Conclusion
World Stroke Day 2024 encourages us all to understand the hidden dangers of silent strokes and take proactive steps to prevent them. Even though silent strokes may not show dramatic symptoms, they can lead to serious health consequences over time. Through a combination of lifestyle changes, regular screenings, and awareness of risk factors, we can all take steps to protect our brain health and reduce the risk of silent strokes.
(This article is reviewed by Kalyani Krishna Chief Content Editor)
Author Profile
Soumita Basu:
Soumita Basu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy and is keenly interested in Ayurveda, home remedies, yoga, fitness, diagnostics, and beauty. With nearly 6 years of experience, she produces evidence-based health content, including articles, videos, and infographics, to provide valuable insights to her audience.
References:
1. Prevalence of silent stroke in patients presenting with initial stroke: the Framingham Study
Authors: C S Kase 1, P A Wolf, E H Chodosh, H B Zacker, M Kelly-Hayes, W B Kannel, R B D'Agostino, L Scampini
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2749843/
2. Silent Brain Infarction and Risk of Future Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ajay Gupta, MD,1,2,* Ashley E. Giambrone, PhD,3 Gino Gialdini, MD,2 Caitlin Finn, BS,1 Diana Delgado, MLS,4 Jose Gutierrez, MD, MPH,5 Clinton Wright, MD, MS,6 Alexa S. Beiser, PhD,7 Sudha Seshadri, MD,8 Ankur Pandya, PhD,9 and Hooman Kamel, MD2,10
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4766016/
