When you think of a stroke, you probably envision symptoms like loss of vision, speech or movement. However, some strokes initially show no symptoms at all.

These so-called “silent strokes” occur when brain cells are damaged by loss of blood flow. Since the injury affects only a small area of the brain, symptoms are often undetectable, making it difficult to diagnose. The area of the brain affected doesn’t play a role in controlling movement, allowing a silent stroke to go undetected.

Although they are more stealthy, silent strokes are more common than symptomatic strokes and still require medical attention like other strokes.

“A single silent stroke does not cause noticeable symptoms, but the damage is cumulative,” says Dr. Adam Wallace, an interventional neurologist at Aurora BayCare Medical Center. “Ongoing silent strokes can lead to neurological problems, like trouble with your memory or concentration.

Read More