Most people picture a stroke as a dramatic medical emergency. They may assume the person having a stroke will suddenly be unable to speak or lift one arm or that they’ll collapse to the ground. But while those situations do happen, not every stroke is so obvious.

Some people have what are known as silent strokes. These strokes don’t cause the classic warning signs that send someone to the emergency room. In fact, many people don’t realize they’ve had one until a brain scan done for another reason shows evidence of damage.

Even though they may seem harmless at first, silent strokes can increase your risk of memory problems, trouble thinking and future strokes. Here’s what you should know about them, as well as the symptoms that should never be ignored.

What is a silent stroke?

A silent stroke happens when blood flow to a small area of the brain is blocked, causing damage without noticeable symptoms. Because the affected part of the brain may control functions that aren’t obvious, a person may not realize anything has happened.

Silent strokes are more common in older adults and people with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation or a history of smoking. Having one silent stroke raises your risk of having another stroke in the future.

How are silent strokes discovered?

Because silent strokes usually don’t cause noticeable symptoms, they’re often found during an MRI or CT scan performed for another reason, such as evaluating headaches, dizziness or memory changes.

If a scan shows signs of a silent stroke, your healthcare provider will usually look for the cause and recommend ways to lower your risk of another stroke.

Can silent strokes be prevented?

Many of the same healthy habits that help prevent a regular stroke can also lower the risk of silent strokes.

You can protect your brain by:

• Keeping your blood pressure under control
• Managing diabetes and cholesterol
• Staying physically active
• Eating a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding smoking
• Limiting alcohol
• Taking prescribed medications as directed

Regular checkups are also important because conditions like high blood pressure often have no symptoms until serious damage has already occurred.

What symptoms should you watch for?

A silent stroke often doesn’t cause obvious symptoms at the time it happens. However, a regular stroke usually comes on suddenly and should always be treated as a medical emergency.

When it comes to the warning signs for stroke, remember the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T.:

• B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or dizziness.
• E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• F – Face: One side of the face droops or feels numb.
• A – Arms: One arm becomes weak or numb and drifts downward when raised.
• S – Speech: Speech becomes slurred or difficult to understand.
• T – Time: Call 911 immediately. Every minute counts.

Other warning signs include sudden confusion, severe headache with no known cause or trouble walking.

If you notice any sudden stroke symptoms in yourself or someone else, call 911 right away. Quick treatment can save brain cells, reduce disability and even save a life.

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