What are the effects of stroke?
It depends on the type of
stroke, the area of the brain where the stroke occurs, and the extent of brain injury. A mild stroke can cause little or no brain damage. A major stroke can cause severe
brain damage and even death. A stroke can occur in different parts of the brain. The brain is divided into four main parts: the right hemisphere (or half), the left hemisphere (or half), the cerebellum, and the brain stem. A stroke in the right half of the brain can cause:
- Problems judging distances - The stroke survivor may misjudge distances and fall or be unable to guide her hands to pick something up.
- Impaired judgment and behavior - The stroke survivor may try to do things that she should not do, such as driving a car.
- Short-term memory loss - The stroke survivor may be able to remember events from 30 years ago, but not what she ate for breakfast that morning.
A
stroke in the left half of the brain can cause:
- Speehc and language problems - The stroke survivor may have trouble speaking or understanding others.
- Slow and cautious behavior - The stroke survivor may need a lot of help to complete tasks.
- Memory problems - The stroke survivor may not remember what she did ten minutes ago or she may have a hard time learning new things.
A stroke in the cerebellum, or the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination, can cause:
- Abnormal reflexes of the head and upper body
- Balance problems
- Dizziness, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), and vomiting
Strokes in the brain stem are very harmful because the brain stem controls all our body's functions that we don't have to think about, such as eye movements, breathing, hearing, speech, and swallowing. Since impulses that start in the brain must travel through the brain stem on their way to the arms and legs, patients with a brain stem stroke may also develop paralysis, or not be able to move or feel on one or both sides of the body. In many cases, a stroke weakens the muscles, making it hard to walk, eat, or dress without help. Some symptoms may improve with time and rehabilitation or therapy.
