Problems Encountered After a Stroke

Stroke is a condition that occurs when a part or portions of the brain do not get enough blood supply. This may occur as a result of blockage or rupture of the blood vessel, which can cause a part or parts of the brain to not receive blood. While stroke can affect people of any age, the condition commonly affects the older population.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), there are more than 700, 000 people who suffer from stroke in the United States each year. More than 100, 000 people die from the condition each year making it the third leading cause of death in the United States.

For most people who survive, stroke may lead to minimal or permanent disability. However, some people with milder forms of stroke can live normal lives. Depending on the severity of stroke or what area of the brain is affected, people may experience one or more of the following after surviving stroke:

Paralysis or hemiparesis

Paralysis or inability to move the involved limb/s is, by far, the most common problem encountered following a stroke. The condition commonly affects one side of the body. It may involve only the face, an arm, or a leg or the entire one side of the body.

Paralysis of one side of the body is clinically called hemiplegia. After stroke, some people may only have weakness of one side of the body (hemiparesis). Paralysis or hemiparesis can cause difficulty of performing daily activities, such as walking or putting on clothes.

Dysphagia and slurred speech

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty of swallowing. This can occur if the portion of the brain that controls swallowing, called the brainstem, is affected. There can be danger of choking if this occurs. Slurring of speech may also be a problem for people who have had stroke because of the affectation of the tongue.

Aphasia

Difficulty of understanding language (aphasia) or forming words may also be a problem of some stroke survivors. For some, they cannot express in words what they are thinking. In others, difficulty of understanding written or spoken language may be the problem.

Cognitive deficits or problems with thinking and memory

Depending on the part of the brain affected, some stroke victims may have problems with learning, attention, thinking clearly, and remembering things. Some people may neglect the paralyzed or weak side of the body.

Emotional disturbances

Because of psychological trauma, it is common for people who survive stroke to have mixed emotions. The stroke victim may have mixed feelings such as fear, anger, sadness, frustration, and anxiety. Depression is fairly common in people who have had stroke. Psychological counseling may help them cope with the condition.

Other problems encountered may include pain, loss of sensation, and bowel and bladder problems. For people who are bedridden or are unable to get up or turn in bed may be at risk of developing skin ulcerations especially on bony areas, such as the spine and hips.

For some people, some of these problems may become a permanent disability, while others will see improvement over time. In addition to doctors, other healthcare professionals that can help with these problems include rehab nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and speech therapists among others.

One other important thing that can help with the recovery of people with stroke is love, support, and understanding from family members.

References:

Post-Stroke Rehabilitation. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

About Stroke Outcomes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.