An MRI can also detect old strokes for decades after they happen. The fastest type of MRI is diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). It measures shifts in fluid in the brain and can detect a stroke soon after its onset. An MRI can also detect evidence of past strokes.
Like a CT scan, a stroke MRI takes multiple images of the inside of the head using sophisticated x-rays and computers. Unlike a CT scan, which takes several hours to reveal any blockages of blood flow, an MRI can uncover any brain damage within an hour of the onset of the stroke symptoms.
Usually, a silent stroke is discovered unexpectedly on a brain CT or brain MRI. These imaging tests can easily distinguish past strokes from recent strokes.
If a stroke is suspected, a CT scan is usually able to show whether you have had an ischaemic stroke or a haemorrhagic stroke. It's generally quicker than an MRI scan and can mean you're able to receive appropriate treatment sooner.
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms: You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not.
Brain scans and tests
You should have a brain scan soon after symptoms start, within an hour of arriving at hospital if possible. The scan can show whether the stroke is due to a clot or a bleed. There are two main types of scan used: A computed tomography or CT scan.
Symptoms to Watch For
You likely won't know for certain that you have suffered a silent stroke without receiving a brain scan like an MRI or CT scan. After a silent stroke, a brain scan can show small white spots that indicate the presence of lesions.
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.
The ones missed are not usually patients with typical stroke symptoms like weakness on one side and inability to speak. Instead, most patients who are missed have subtler strokes presenting with atypical stroke symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, headaches, or mental confusion.
Although conventional MRI sequences most often do not show evidence of stroke in the acute phase, conventional MRI may show signs of intravascular thrombus, such as absence of flow void on T2-WI, vascular hyperintensity on FLAIR, and hypointense vascular sign on gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequence.
These brief episodes are transient ischemic attacks (TIA), sometimes called “mini-strokes.” They still should be taken seriously, because they tend to be signs of underlying serious conditions that can lead to a full stroke, even possibly in the few days following a TIA event if not evaluated and treated for a TIA.
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).
Aging: the prevalence of silent stroke rises with increasing age with a prevalence rate of over twenty percent of the elderly increasing to 30%-40% in those over the age of 70.
There is no defined limit to the number of strokes a person can have without dying. However, each stroke injures the brain, which can cause lasting damage. Brain cells need a constant supply of blood and oxygen to stay alive.
In reality, there is no set timeframe for strokes — some can last just minutes, while others can linger for hours or even days. The faster your stroke is treated, the better your chances of survival, so it's important to understand the symptoms of different types of strokes.
Men and women who have strokes often experience a similar set of symptoms that can be remembered using the mnemonic F.A.S.T.: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911. Other signs include problems seeing out of one or both eyes and balance or coordination problems.
How Does a Stroke Impact Life Expectancy? Despite the likelihood of making a full recovery, life expectancy after stroke incidents can decrease. Unfortunately, researchers have observed a wide range of life expectancy changes in stroke patients, but the average reduction in lifespan is nine and a half years.
Our study has revealed that according to neurologists, the most consistent predictors for a diagnosis of TIA include negative symptoms (loss of motor, sensory, or visual function) and speech disturbance.
Some people will experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling several days before they have a serious stroke. One study found that 43% of stroke patients experienced mini-stroke symptoms up to a week before they had a major stroke.
Your doctor then will need to do blood tests and imaging tests to figure out which type of stroke you might have had. The most common kind is called ischemic stroke.
Overview. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke. A TIA usually lasts only a few minutes and doesn't cause permanent damage. Often called a ministroke, a TIA may be a warning.
Many people who have a stroke do not feel any pain. If a person is unsure whether something is wrong, they may ignore the other symptoms.
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.
Can a CT scan detect old strokes? Yes – like an MRI, a CT scan can detect old strokes. There may be changes in the volume of brain cells where the stroke took place.