Forum: It’s fortunate that the doctor discovered mother-in-law had a silent stroke

For most people, a stroke is often associated with signs and symptoms that include an inability to move or feel on one side of the body, problems understanding or speaking, dizziness, and loss of vision.

However, much less is known about silent strokes.

Like other types of strokes, silent strokes are caused by a loss of blood flow to an area of the brain. What makes these undetectable, or “silent”, is that they occur in an area of the brain that does not control essential functions like speech or walking. Very often, the symptoms of a silent stroke are mistaken for naturally occurring signs of ageing. The damage is irreversible.

My 86-year-old mother-in-law has been showing signs of memory loss and cognitive decline, as well as loss of urinary bladder control over the last year. We thought this could be due to her old age.

I told her doctor at Alexandra Hospital about her condition. A brain scan revealed that my mother-in-law had had a silent stroke.

The Cardiovascular Health Study, a long-term, large-scale study in the United States, has found that silent strokes are estimated to be five times more prevalent than symptomatic strokes. Silent strokes are an independent predictor of future symptomatic strokes.

I found it a blessing that my mother-in-law’s condition was caught, thanks to the doctor. She is now on medication to help prevent a major symptomatic stroke, and will be engaging in community activities to stimulate her brain.

Tiong Choon Hin