2008
Silent Strokes: Low Key but Could Cause Permanent Damage
Did you know that it is very possible to have a stroke and not immediately notice it? Not a myth, this can and does actually happen, making it very important for you to know the signs of a stroke, so that you can stay safe. A stroke is brain damage that is cause by a blood vessel that is being blocked or bleeding that is in the brain, and while these “silent strokes” may not catch your attention, they can cause damage.
A new study conducted found that 11 percent of people who thought they were healthy and in good condition actually had some brain damage from a silent stroke. This kind of stroke is a true stroke, but they don’t result in any symptoms that are noticeable. People that have had a silent stroke are at higher risk for subsequent strokes and for a loss of mental skills that is accelerated.
A research team led by Rohit Das, an M.D. from Boston University’s School of Medicine, reviewed MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans of 2,040 patients that are participating in the Framingham Study, an ongoing study examining the relationship between the risk factors and subsequent cardiovascular events. The MRI scans were reviewed to find evidence of stroke. The average age of the participants was 62 and most were of European ancestry. None of the participants had a history of stroke or had any symptoms of a stroke.