A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain becomes blocked or bursts, depriving the brain of oxygen and nutrients. This can cause a range of symptoms, including paralysis, speech difficulties, and loss of vision. Strokes are often caused by high blood pressure or smoking, but they can also be due to an aneurysm or other medical condition.
There are two main causes of stroke:
- A blocked artery that stops blood flow to the brain, which can happen because of high cholesterol or other factors
- A clot that forms in an artery in the brain and blocks blood flow, which can happen because of high blood pressure or other factors
Anyone can have a stroke, but some people are at greater risk than others. For example, people who smoke cigarettes or use drugs are more likely to have strokes than people who do not use these substances. People who have high blood pressure are also more likely to have strokes than those who do not have high blood pressure. Other risk factors for stroke include:
- Age (older adults are more likely to have strokes)
- Family history of stroke or heart attack before age 55 in male relatives and age 65 in female relatives (risk increases with the number of affected relatives)
- High cholesterol levels in the blood
- Diabetes mellitus (high blood glucose levels)
The effects of stroke can be devastating. As a result of these deficits, they are often unable to return to work or perform the same tasks at home that they did before their stroke. Stroke survivors may also experience emotional distress following their stroke as they struggle with these changes in their daily lives and relationships with others. Here are six after-effects that you need to be aware of in detail:
- Memory problems, including problems recalling past experiences or names.
- The severity of the memory problems depends on where in the brain the stroke took place, how large it was, and how much brain tissue was damaged. Stroke can also make it harder to learn new information and retain what you’ve already learned. Memory problems are most common right after a stroke, but they can also last for weeks or months afterward.
- Difficulty with spatial awareness or navigation.
- For example, an individual may no longer be able to recognize or use the sense of touch to distinguish between the right and left sides of their body. Because they are not aware of the difference between left and right, they cannot rely on their own feeling to decide where they are in space.
This is especially true if they have had a hemorrhagic stroke that has damaged or destroyed parts of their corpus callosum. When an individual has had a stroke that damages or destroys this communication center, then it makes it very difficult for them to integrate what is happening on both sides of their body together into an overall picture of their spatial awareness.
- Aphasia
- This is a difficulty speaking or understanding a language not due to a neurological disorder. Aphasia occurs when some area of the brain is damaged by a stroke, causing an interruption in the flow of information between the part of the brain that controls language and the parts that process sound, understand written words and sentences, and formulate spoken language. Aphasia can range from mild to severe; it can be temporary or permanent. It affects different people in different ways.
- Paralysis
- Generally, this will happen when the brain is not receiving the oxygen it needs, which can be due to a blocked artery or a collapsed vein. Paralysis occurs as a result of damage to the nerve cells in the brain, which can lead to loss of movement or sensation. Depending on the extent of the damage, paralysis may last for a short period or longer.
- Difficulty with mathematics or reasoning abilities
- After a stroke, it may take time for a person to regain the ability to think logically and solve problems correctly. This is because the brain may not be able to communicate as effectively with other parts of the body. Additionally, the area of the brain that controls mathematical skills may be damaged in a stroke. In some cases, people may have difficulty with basic arithmetic and can’t understand complicated math problems. They may also have problems with problem-solving skills and find it difficult to come up with creative solutions.
- Problems with balance and coordination
- Balance problems can often manifest as an inability to maintain balance while walking or standing, while coordination issues can cause difficulty with tasks such as using tools or working with others. Both of these problems can be extremely difficult to overcome and may require the use of specialist equipment or training to help improve your ability to function effectively.
A stroke can have a soberingly large effect on an individual and the people immediately surrounding them. This is why it’s important to take stroke recovery seriously and begin treatment as soon as the possibility arises that you or someone close to you may have had a stroke. Only then can you reduce any chance of further complications and get your loved one the assistance they need to recover fully. If you want to help find new treatments for this condition, joining stroke clinical trials might make a difference.