In another study, higher levels of stress and depressive symptoms were linked to increased risk of what's called “incident stroke” or TIA (transient ischemic attacks) in middle-aged and older adults.
Heart disease, stroke and stress
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.
Feeling stressed all the time could raise your risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.
According to research that appeared in Stroke, an American Heart Association journal, middle-aged and older individuals with high levels of stress, depression, and hostility were subject to a significantly higher risk of stroke or TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack, commonly known as “mini-stroke”).
A person's life expectancy after a mini stroke reduces by around 4% in the first year following the attack in comparison to people who have not had one. In the following 9 years, life expectancy reduces by 20%. These statistics come from a 2019 review .
Also, it's important to recognize a TIA as a warning sign because it often comes before a full stroke. A person who experiences a TIA may have a 10-20 percent risk of having a full stroke in the next seven days depending on the cause, Streib said.
According to the study authors, anger or emotional upset was linked to an approximately 30% higher risk of having a stroke within one hour of experiencing those emotions. Another potential stroke trigger revealed by the study was heavy physical exertion, although the evidence was less convincing.
But the symptoms of anxiety are very real, and many of them resemble a stroke-like experience, for example: Difficulty thinking or formulating thoughts. Feeling like limbs or muscles cannot move. Blurry vision or dizziness. Feeling faint.
Chronic stress directly impacts the cardiovascular system, which damages the arteries when left unmanaged. Vascular damage can eventually lead to a stroke, which is a medical emergency caused by a clogged or burst artery in the brain.
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.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
Serious mental illnesses tied to higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
It can be caused by a narrowed blood vessel, bleeding, or a clot that blocks blood flow.
A stroke can affect your ability to control your mood and emotions. This is called emotionalism, sometimes known as 'emotional lability'. It can mean that your mood changes very quickly and you are more emotional than you used to be.
Some of the most common stroke mimics are seizures, migraine, fainting, serious infections and functional neurological disorder (FND). Once the person is diagnosed, they can have treatment or support to manage their symptoms.
A multinational study has found that people with depression symptoms are more likely to experience a stroke, and their recovery from stroke is often more difficult. In this study, people with symptoms of depression had a 46% increased stroke risk compared with those without such symptoms.
Studies are linking PTSD with an increased chance for a stroke. For instance, in one study, women with elevated symptoms of PTSD had 60 percent higher rates of heart attack or stroke compared with women who never experienced trauma.
A silent stroke refers to a stroke that doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms. Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching that area, causing nearby brain cells to die.
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.
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.
Warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be evident as early as seven days before an attack and require urgent treatment to prevent serious damage to the brain, according to a study of stroke patients published in the March 8, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Personality Changes are Common
After a stroke, you might feel more anxious, lose interest in hobbies or laugh or cry uncontrollably. These symptoms may be upsetting to you and your loved ones and can affect quality of life.