Can You Have a Stroke Without Realising It? The Warning Signs People Miss

A stroke results when blood flow to part of the brain is reduced or a blood vessel ruptures. Brain cells will start to become damaged soon after.

Every stroke is different. Some cause sudden symptoms such as weakness, speech issues or balance issues. Others may cause only mild symptoms.


A silent stroke can lead to brain damage but without any noticeable symptoms. Most of the time they are picked up on during brain imaging for other reasons. Although the symptoms may not be noticed it can be linked to an increased risk of further strokes and may cause memory or cognitive issues.


Strokes cause sudden symptoms, however they can be missed as they are mild or improve quickly. Be aware of the following:

• Sudden confusion or speech issues

Sometimes they find difficulty in speaking or any kind of words that they are not able to pronounce, which earlier they were able to do it. And sometimes they stammer, and so these are the early signs as well.

• Sudden numbness or weakness

Suddenly experiencing weakness or numbness to their face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.

• Sudden vision changes

Suddenly becoming blurry sighted, double vision or losing vision in one or both eyes.

• Sudden dizziness or balance issues

Suddenly struggling to walk, losing coordination for no reason or having severe dizziness.

• Sudden severe headache

A sudden severe headache that is out of the ordinary can be a sign of a serious medical issue. It could be a bleed.

Asymptomatic stroke acts as a silent stroke, which surely damaged brain tissues without causing any obvious or recognizable symptoms at the time, unlike the typical stroke.

Never assume there isn’t a problem.

Having temporary stroke like symptoms can be a sign of a TIA (mini stroke). This is a medical emergency and can be a warning sign for a future stroke.

Remember the B.E. F.A.S.T acronym:

Balance – Suddenly losing your balance.

Eyes – Sudden vision changes.

Face – One side of the face drooping.

Arms – Weakness or numbness in one arm.

Speech – Difficulty speaking or slurred speech.

Time – Get emergency help straight away.

If you see any of these signs call your local emergency services. Even if the symptoms go away. Note when the symptoms started and do not drive yourself to hospital. Getting treatment quickly can reduce the risk of serious brain damage.

Surely, but not every stroke can be prevented at a very early stage. But indeed you can take certain steps that can at least lower the risk. For example, keep blood pressure and cholesterol always under control, manage your diabetes with the medicine guidance, and do proper exercising, and avoid smoking, stay physically and mentally healthy, and follow a proper and prescribed balanced diet. Apart from this, regular health checkup is crucial, as manage your blood pressure and make sure you take good care of your heart, which is very important, so that you can be away from heart diseases and all.

And the most important thing that you have to remember, a stroke does not always look very dramatic. Recognizing sudden changes at a very earliest stage is also important. So you make sure you take professional help in this case and stop it at an earliest stage.

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1. Can you have a stroke without realising it?
2. Yes. A silent stroke may cause brain damage without obvious symptoms and may only be detected through brain imaging. Other strokes can cause subtle symptoms that people overlook.
3. What are the first warning signs of a stroke?
4. Common warning signs include sudden facial drooping, weakness on one side, difficulty speaking, vision changes, loss of balance and a severe headache without a known cause.
5. Can a silent stroke affect memory?
6. Silent strokes have been linked to problems with memory, thinking and movement. However, these symptoms can have other causes, so medical assessment is important.