Symptoms of stroke usually come on suddenly and without warning. Signs of lacunar stroke can include:

• slurred speech
• inability to raise one arm
• one side of the face appearing droopy
• numbness, often on only one side of the body
• difficulty walking or moving the arms
• confusion
• memory problems
• struggle to speak or understand spoken language
• headache
• loss of consciousness or coma

As brains cells die, functions controlled by that area of the brain are affected. These symptoms can vary depending on the location of the stroke.

Lacunar stroke is caused by lack of blood flow in smaller arteries that supply deep brain structures. The most important risk factor for the development of lacunar stroke is chronic high blood pressure. The condition can cause the arteries to narrow. This makes it easier for cholesterol plaques or blood clots to block blood flow to the deep brain tissues.

Risk of lacunar stroke increases with age. Those at risk include people with chronic high blood pressure, heart disorders, or diabetes. People with a family history of stroke are also at a higher risk than other groups.

Other factors that increase the likelihood of lacunar stroke include:

• smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
• alcohol
• drug abuse
• pregnancy
• use of birth control pills
• sedentary lifestyle
• poor diet
• high cholesterol
• obstructive sleep apnea

Annual physical examinations are important to screen for various health issues, including high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea.

If you have a lacunar stroke, early treatment increases your chance of survival and may prevent further damage. Once you arrive at the emergency room, you’ll likely be given aspirin. This reduces the risk of having another stroke.

Supportive measures may be needed to assist your breathing and heart function. You may receive oral or intravenous clot-busting drugs. In extreme circumstances a doctor can deliver medications directly into the brain.

Lacunar stroke can result in some brain damage. Depending how badly the underlying structures are damaged, you may not be able to care for yourself following a stroke. Recovery varies for each person and depends on the severity of the stroke.

Some lacunar stroke patients transition from the hospital to a rehabilitation center or nursing home, at least for a short period of time. Because of brain damage, stroke patients often have to re-learn skills and regain their strength. This can take weeks, months, or years.

Most stroke patients require long-term treatment. This can include medication to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. After a lacunar stroke, some patients also require:

• physical therapy to restore function
• occupational therapy to improve skills needed for everyday living
• speech therapy to improve language skills