A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Ignoring the signs and symptoms of a stroke can have devastating consequences, including permanent disability and even death. Getting medical attention quickly is critical to surviving a stroke and minimizing long-term damage. This article will explore what happens when someone ignores a stroke and does not seek timely treatment.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted due to a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel supplying the brain. There are two main types of stroke:
Ischemic stroke
This is the most common type of stroke, accounting for around 87% of cases. It happens when a blood clot blocks an artery leading to the brain. Brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die within minutes.
Hemorrhagic stroke
This occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. The pressure of pooled blood damages brain cells.
During a stroke, 1.9 million brain cells die every minute. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the more brain damage occurs.
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate medical help can save lives. The acronym FAST helps identify the most common stroke symptoms:
Face drooping – One side of the face may droop or become numb.
Arm weakness – Arm or leg weakness on one side of the body. The person may be unable to raise both arms.
Speech difficulty – Slurred speech or difficulty understanding speech.
Time to call 911 – If any of these symptoms are present, even if they go away, call 911 immediately.
Other symptoms can include sudden severe headache, blurred or decreased vision, dizziness, and loss of balance or coordination.
What happens in the first hours after a stroke?
The early moments and hours after a stroke are critical. Here’s an overview of what happens:
Brain injury continues
Without blood and oxygen, brain cells keep dying, increasing the amount of brain damage. Prompt treatment limits how much of the brain is ultimately affected.
Blood pressure often rises
High blood pressure is common immediately after a stroke. This further impairs blood flow to the brain.
Swelling develops
Fluid leaks from damaged blood vessels, causing swelling or edema in the brain. This damages more brain cells.
Bleeding may occur
With a hemorrhagic stroke, bleeding can continue and blood may accumulate and compress areas of the brain.
Blood sugar increases
Stroke can cause blood sugar levels to rise, even in people without diabetes. This can worsen outcomes.
The longer treatment is delayed, the more these processes damage the brain, leading to irreversible neurologic deficits or death.
What happens if you ignore the signs of a stroke?
Ignoring or failing to recognize the symptoms of a stroke can have catastrophic consequences. Without treatment, a stroke will cause rapid, progressive brain damage. Here is what may happen:
Brain tissue dies
Without restored blood flow, the brain quickly becomes infarcted or dead. Around 2 million brain cells die every minute during a stroke, increasing risk of long-term effects.
Swelling and fluid buildup
Edema and bleeding in the brain compress tissue, killing more cells. Pressure may build to dangerous levels.
Spreading damage
The stroke may expand to wider areas of the brain as cell death spreads. This can affect speech, movement, and thinking.
Increased permanent disability
Ignoring stroke symptoms leads to more extensive brain damage and greater physical and cognitive disability. Recovery becomes less likely.
Coma or death
Without medical intervention, massive brain cell loss may lead to a coma, significant impairment, or even death from the stroke’s effects.
What are the treatment options for stroke?
When someone experiences an ischemic stroke, getting medical care quickly is vital to restore blood flow and save brain tissue. Here are the main treatment options:
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)
This clot-busting drug must be given within 3-4.5 hours from when symptoms started. It dissolves the clot blocking blood flow.
Mechanical thrombectomy
This surgery removes large clots through a catheter inserted into an artery. It may be effective up to 24 hours post-stroke.
Anticoagulant medicines
Medicines like aspirin and anticoagulants help reduce clotting risks during and after stroke.
Treatment of complications
Other therapies can help manage high blood pressure, swelling, bleeding and other effects of stroke.
Rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational and speech therapy are also crucial for recovering function after a stroke.
What disabilities can result from an untreated stroke?
Leaving a stroke untreated results in more brain tissue death, increasing the risk of long-term disability or deficits. Potential disabilities and impairments include:
| Type of Disability | Examples |
| Paralysis or weakness | Inability to move or coordination issues on one side of the body |
| Numbness | Loss of sensation in the face, arms, or legs |
| Vision problems | Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of visual field |
| Speech and language deficits | Slurred speech, difficulty finding words or understanding speech |
| Cognitive changes | Memory loss, poor concentration, decreased reasoning |
| Emotional difficulties | Depression, anxiety, mood swings |
The brain controls everything we do, so a stroke can impact any body function. Other possible disabilities include pain, fatigue, incontinence, and swallowing difficulties.
What is the outlook for an untreated stroke?
The prognosis largely depends on the type of stroke, its severity, and the amount of time before treatment. But in general:
Moderate or severe stroke
If moderately or severely symptomatic at onset, an untreated stroke has a poor prognosis. One study found over 80% of seriously impaired untreated stroke patients died within 3 months.
Mild or improving symptoms
If mild or improving symptoms, patients may survive an untreated stroke but often have major disabilities or deficits.
Time is crucial
Studies show the longer treatment is delayed, the worse the outcome. Earlier treatment saves lives and reduces disability.
Ignoring minor stroke symptoms can be a deadly mistake. What seems like a mild event can quickly progress to major stroke, coma or death without rapid treatment.
Can a stroke cause sudden death?
Yes, an untreated stroke can absolutely be fatal. Studies suggest over half of people with an untreated severe stroke die within 30 days. Causes of sudden death include:
Brain herniation
Stroke swelling and fluid buildup can increase intracranial pressure. This may compress the brainstem, leading to respiratory arrest and death.
Massive brain infarction
Widespread oxygen-deprived tissue can cause life-threatening edema and fatal brain injury.
Heart complications
Stroke stress on the heart may result in irregular rhythms, heart failure, or heart attack.
Pneumonia
Difficulty swallowing after stroke increases aspiration pneumonia risk. Respiratory infections are a common cause of death.
Pulmonary embolism
Immobility after stroke raises risk of blood clots that can travel to and fatally block the lungs.
While less common with milder strokes, sudden death absolutely can occur if stroke is left untreated. Seeking immediate emergency care is vital.
Can you recover completely from an untreated stroke?
Full recovery from a severely symptomatic stroke is very unlikely without prompt treatment and rehabilitation. The longer treatment is delayed, the lower the chance of recovering lost brain function.
With milder strokes or transient warning events, called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), natural stroke recovery is possible. But outcomes are still best when TIAs are treated as emergencies warranting urgent medical evaluation.
Overall, doctors emphasize that permanent disability or death are real risks if stroke symptoms are dismissed rather than treated immediately. Calling 911 gets the best shot at maximal recovery.
Can you have a stroke and not know it?
It is possible to have a “silent stroke” with no immediately obvious symptoms but this is uncommon. More often, minor strokes or TIAs go unrecognized. When symptoms are subtle or temporary, people may not get help in time. Warning signs not to ignore include:
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Severe headache with no known cause
Any symptoms of stroke, even if they resolve quickly, require urgent evaluation to prevent a major disabling stroke. Calling 911 at the first sign of trouble provides the best chance for recovery.
Can you feel a stroke coming on?
In some cases, people may experience early warning signs of an impending stroke, whether minutes, hours, or days before its full onset. Potential advance stroke symptoms include:
- Mini-strokes or TIAs with temporary effects
- Severe headache or migraine
- Dizziness or episodes of vertigo
- Vision disturbance or loss
- Difficulty speaking
- Weakness or numbness
- Nausea or vomiting
Experiencing any unusual neurological symptoms should prompt immediate medical care to determine if a stroke is imminent or happening. Getting checked out could prevent a major stroke.
How long can you have a stroke without knowing?
The maximum time someone can have a stroke without realizing it depends on severity. Mild strokes may go undetected for longer than severe strokes that result in sudden impairment.
Here are some timeframes that untreated strokes may go unrecognized:
- Minutes to hours – Most major strokes cause rapid symptoms that quickly become noticeable
- Several hours – Moderate stroke symptoms may be dismissed at first until they progress
- Days – Minor stroke or TIA signs may subside before patient seeks care
- Weeks – Small or partial strokes in certain areas can escape attention
Without treatment, even an unnoticed minor stroke likely causes some permanent, silent brain damage. Any unexplained neurological symptoms should be urgently evaluated.
Can a stroke be mistaken for something else?
Yes, strokes can absolutely be mistaken for less serious conditions. This delays critical treatment. Stroke may be confused with:
Migraine headache
Sudden severe headache with neurological deficits requires emergency stroke diagnosis.
Seizure
Muscle jerking or twitching may suggest a seizure, not stroke.
Vertigo
Dizziness and imbalance can be stroke signs, not inner ear vertigo.
Confusion
Mental fogginess may be dismissed as confusion in the elderly.
Fatigue
Weakness and numbness could be blamed on tiredness.
Intoxication
Slurred speech from stroke may be attributed to substance use.
Any atypical neurological symptoms must be immediately evaluated to rule out stroke and prevent disability.
Can you have a stroke and not know it years later?
It’s uncommon, but possible to discover you had a stroke years later. Silent stroke signs may include:
- Cognitive changes – Subtle personality, emotional, or memory shifts
- Small deficits – Numbness, weakness, vision issues
- Discovery on scans – Old lesions seen on CT or MRI scans
People over age 65 should have regular cognitive check-ups. Stroke risk factors like high blood pressure should be well controlled. Promptly discussing any odd neurological symptoms with a doctor is wise.
Conclusion
Ignoring or failing to recognize the signs of stroke can have devastating and even fatal consequences. Permanent disability and death are very real risks when treatment is delayed. Any unusual onset of neurological symptoms, even if subtle or temporary, warrants immediate medical evaluation. Calling 911 or getting to the ER immediately at the first signs of stroke provides the best chance for survival and recovery.