While some visual function can improve after a stroke, a complete recovery is uncommon.
A combination of medical treatment, regular communication with your doctor and lifestyle changes can put stroke survivors on the road to recovery and a normal, healthy life.
But they tend to have one thing in common: They take people by surprise, says Dr. Humbert. “Stroke symptoms come on very suddenly,” she says. “People are fine one moment and then suddenly have symptoms, such as weakness, numbness, trouble talking, or loss of vision.
Silent Strokes More Common Than You'd Expect
A study of middle-aged people with no apparent signs of stroke found that about 10% had brain damage from one. The damage that happens is permanent, but therapy might help stimulate other parts of the brain so you regain abilities that may have weakened.
Recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, but others have long-term or lifelong disabilities.
A mild stroke can be an indicator that a more serious stroke is on its way. Compared to the general population, people who have suffered a mild stroke are five times more likely to have an ischemic stroke in the next two years. Patients who have experienced a mild stroke should follow up with their doctor regularly.
A stroke changes life for the survivor and everyone involved. Not only do survivors experience physical changes, but many experience personality changes ranging from apathy to neglect. Some survivors just don't seem to care about anything. The best response to apathy is activity.
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.
Even after surviving a stroke, you're not out of the woods, since having one makes it a lot more likely that you'll have another. In fact, of the 795,000 Americans who will have a first stroke this year, 23 percent will suffer a second stroke.
Your brain is amazing! It has the ability to re-wire itself, allowing you to improve skills such as walking, talking and using your affected arm. This process is known as neuroplasticity. It begins after a stroke, and it can continue for years.
A mild stroke is also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is when blood flow to a part of the brain, spinal cord, or retina briefly stops. This can cause momentary stroke-like symptoms but doesn't harm brain cells or cause permanent disability.
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.
TIAs look like strokes in terms of signs and symptoms, but they are temporary. In other words, they leave no lasting brain damage or residual symptoms. However, they serve as a warning sign that a person is at higher risk of a major stroke and should seek immediate medical attention.
An MRI can sometimes show the site of the TIA, especially if it's done soon after it happens. But this is not the main way that a TIA is diagnosed.
For this reason, the 60 minutes after the onset of stroke symptoms are known as “the golden hour.” If treatment can be initiated within this brief window, the patient's outcome is likely to be better.
According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), about 10 percent of people who have a stroke recover almost completely; 25 percent recover with minor impairments, and 40 percent have lasting moderate to severe impairments that require special care.
Gains can happen quickly or over time.
The most rapid recovery usually occurs during the first three to four months after a stroke, but some survivors continue to recover well into the first and second year after their stroke.
Stress can cause the heart to work harder, increase blood pressure, and increase sugar and fat levels in the blood. These things, in turn, can increase the risk of clots forming and travelling to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.
You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not.
Most people who have a mini-stroke feel fine after the event. In fact, many people don't even realize they've had one! Symptoms might include weakness, numbness, tingling, vision changes or difficulty speaking. Most symptoms are temporary and dissipate within minutes but sometimes can last up to 24 hours.
Stroke impacts the brain, and the brain controls our behavior and emotions. You or your loved one may experience feelings of irritability, forgetfulness, carelessness or confusion. Feelings of anger, anxiety or depression are also common.