Unlike events such as a heart attack where there could be obvious signs of discomfort or pain, a silent stroke may include the following symptoms: Sudden lack of balance. Temporary loss of basic muscle movement (bladder included) Slight memory loss.
Is it possible to have a stroke and not know it, like if you're sleeping or the symptoms are mild? Answer from Ted Lowenkopf, M.D., medical director of Providence Stroke Center: Yes, you can have a stroke and not know it.
Approximately 14 percent of all strokes occur during sleep, preventing many from getting clot-busting treatment, according to a study published in the May 10, 2011, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
OBJECTIVE Ischaemic stroke occurs only in 20%-40% of patients at night. The aim of the study was to compare sleep and stroke characteristics of patients with and without night time onset of acute ischaemic cerebrovascular events.
Background It is reported that 13% to 44% of all cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) occur during sleep. In addition to other well-known risk factors, snoring, sleep apnea, obesity, and daytime sleepiness have been shown to significantly increase the risk of stroke.
' What is wake-up stroke? What causes wake-up stroke? Dr Bellolio explained that wake up strokes were influenced by circadian or night time changes in blood clotting, hormone levels and neurological function and like cardiac events, strokes were more common in the morning.
In addition to the classic stroke symptoms associated with the FAST acronym, around 7-65% of people undergoing a stroke will experience some form of a headache. People describe a stroke-related headache as a very severe headache that comes on within seconds or minutes.
“The alarming finding that more than 30% of people would think that they were dying or having a stroke when experiencing symptoms of sleep paralysis chimes well with the notion that this is a largely unrecognised sleep disorder in the general population.
One of the most common stroke mimics is a seizure, which researchers believe account for as many as 20% of all stroke mimics. Other common stroke mimics include migraines, syncope, sepsis, brain tumor and metabolic derangement (low sodium or low blood sugar).
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.
Look for these signs and symptoms if you think you or someone you know is having a stroke: Sudden trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying. Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body. Problems seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, and a loss of balance.
In fact, ischemic strokes unfold over a period of 10 hours. That means that with every second you wait for treatment, the brain damage gets worse. If a stroke is untreated for the full 10 hours, the brain ages up to 36 years! With every minute you wait, the brain loses two million brain cells.
First-Stroke Patients' 5-Year Survival Rates Study
Of the surviving patients, 60 percent who suffered an ischemic stroke and 38 percent with intracerebral hemorrhage survived one year, compared to 31 percent and 24 percent, respectively, after five years.
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.
Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. Loss of vision or changes to your vision in one or both eyes, which usually happens suddenly. Feeling confused or having trouble understanding things that are usually easy for you. Numbness or weakness on one side of the body (or in one arm or leg)
When stroke occurs, the blood pressure (BP) often rises because of various factors, such as psychological stress, pain, elevated intracranial pressure, urinary retention, and hypoxemia.
Computed tomography (CT) scan.
A CT scan uses X-rays to take pictures of the brain. A CT scan of the head is usually one of the first tests used for a stroke. A CT scan can show bleeding in the brain or damage to brain cells. The CT scan also can find other problems that can cause stroke symptoms.
Over the study period, there were 1,557 strokes among the participants. Those who slept for 9 or more hours per night were 23% more likely to experience a stroke than those who regularly slept only 7–8 hours each night.
Prognosis for Coma After Stroke
It's unknown how long a stroke-induced coma will last in any individual since every stroke is different. A coma rarely lasts more than 2-4 weeks. However, in severe cases, a coma can last for years.