
Strokes can be life-changing events, leaving survivors with a range of physical and emotional difficulties to overcome. The effects of a stroke depend on the area of the brain affected, with different parts of the brain controlling different bodily functions. While some people only experience minor effects such as fatigue or clumsiness, others may need to relearn basic functions like walking and swallowing. The recovery process can be long and challenging, requiring various forms of therapy and rehabilitation. The impact of a stroke can extend beyond physical challenges, with survivors often experiencing feelings of vulnerability, confusion, and fear. It is crucial for survivors to seek professional help if these emotions become overwhelming and to have support from loved ones during their recovery journey.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Feelings | Shaken, confused, scared, vulnerable, disoriented, out of control, depressed, anxious |
Physical symptoms | Tingling, numbness, weakness, loss of bladder control, sweating, vomiting, dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, fatigue, blurred vision, double vision, loss of peripheral vision, loss of coordination, slurred speech, memory loss, loss of appetite, neck pain, ear ringing |
Mental symptoms | Memory loss, disorientation, confusion, emotional instability, personality changes, agitation, cluttered speech |
What You'll Learn
- Survivors may experience emotional distress and feelings of vulnerability
- Survivors may experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and loss of balance
- Strokes can cause disorientation and confusion, including memory problems
- Survivors may experience changes in vision, including double vision and blindness
- Survivors may experience difficulties with speech and language
Survivors may experience emotional distress and feelings of vulnerability
Experiencing a stroke can be a life-changing event, and survivors may feel emotionally distressed and vulnerable. The impact of a stroke on the brain can lead to a range of emotional and behavioural changes, including feelings of irritability, forgetfulness, carelessness, inattention, confusion, fear, frustration, anger, grief, sadness, anxiety, and depression. These emotions can be overwhelming and negatively impact the survivor's quality of life.
Post-stroke emotional disturbances are common and can manifest in various ways. One such disturbance is post-stroke depression (PSD), which includes symptoms such as a depressed mood, loss of energy, decreased concentration, and psychic retardation. PSD can affect up to 67% of stroke survivors and is more prevalent in the acute phase. It is often associated with severe strokes and early or late physical disability.
Another emotional disturbance is post-stroke anxiety, which includes excessive anxiousness or worry and difficulty controlling worries. This can affect up to 28% of acute stroke patients and tends to last longer when associated with PSD.
Post-stroke emotional incontinence (PSEI) refers to uncontrollable outbursts of involuntary laughing or crying. PSEI is related to damage to specific areas of the brain, such as the lenticulocapsular region and the brainstem. It can be effectively treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Post-stroke anger proneness (PSAP) is also common, with patients becoming more irritable, impulsive, and hostile. This is often associated with PSEI and serotonergic dysfunction. SSRIs can help reduce anger and aggression in stroke patients.
Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common and disabling symptom, affecting up to 75% of survivors. It is associated with neurological deficits, depression, and various co-morbidities. While SSRIs have been used to treat PSF, their effectiveness is uncertain, and other treatments such as modafinil are being explored.
Recognising and addressing these emotional disturbances is crucial for improving the quality of life for stroke survivors and their caregivers. Various treatments, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, can help manage these emotional challenges.
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Survivors may experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and loss of balance
Experiencing a stroke can be life-changing, and survivors may face a long road to recovery. The physical symptoms of a stroke can vary, and may include fatigue, nausea, and loss of balance.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom post-stroke, with between 39-72% of survivors experiencing it. This fatigue can be both physical and mental exhaustion, which can be triggered by stress, medication, overwork, and mental and physical illness. It can be difficult to predict when fatigue will occur, and it can make daily activities more challenging. Sleep disturbances are also common, with many survivors experiencing breathing issues, prolonged nighttime sleep, or excessive daytime sleepiness. It is important for survivors to seek support from their healthcare team and loved ones to manage their fatigue and make any necessary lifestyle changes.
Nausea
While nausea is not explicitly mentioned in the sources, it is possible that stroke survivors may experience this symptom, especially if they are suffering from vomiting as a result of their stroke.
Loss of Balance
Balance issues are a common effect of strokes, with many survivors experiencing weakness or numbness on one side of their body, affecting their movement and control. This can lead to difficulties with walking and performing everyday tasks. Rehabilitation and physical therapy can help survivors regain their balance and improve their coordination.
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Strokes can cause disorientation and confusion, including memory problems
A stroke is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when there is an interruption in the blood supply to the brain, often due to a blocked artery or bleeding in the brain. This interruption deprives brain cells of oxygen, causing them to stop functioning properly and potentially leading to permanent damage or death. Strokes can have a range of physical and mental symptoms, including disorientation and confusion, as well as memory problems.
Strokes can cause disorientation and confusion due to the interruption of blood flow to the brain, which can impair cognitive functions. The sudden onset of disorientation and confusion can be frightening for both the person experiencing the stroke and those around them. It is important to recognise the signs of a stroke and seek immediate medical attention to minimise the risk of permanent damage or death.
Memory problems are also a common consequence of strokes. This is because different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions, and when a stroke occurs, the affected area may lose its ability to form or retrieve memories. Memory loss can vary in severity and may improve over time, but in some cases, the damage may be permanent.
The effects of a stroke depend on several factors, including the location of the obstruction and the extent of brain tissue affected. The recovery process can be long and challenging, often requiring physical, occupational, and speech therapy. It is crucial for stroke survivors to have access to the necessary support and resources to help them regain their independence and adapt to any lasting changes.
In addition to disorientation, confusion, and memory problems, other cognitive and neurological issues may arise after a stroke. These can include emotional instability, personality changes, and difficulties with language and comprehension. The impact of a stroke on an individual's cognitive functions can be life-changing and may require ongoing rehabilitation and support.
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Survivors may experience changes in vision, including double vision and blindness
A stroke is a "brain attack" that occurs when blood that brings oxygen to the brain stops flowing, causing brain cells to die. Depending on the location and extent of the brain tissue affected, survivors may experience vision issues, including double vision and blindness.
About one-third of stroke survivors experience vision loss, and most do not fully recover their vision. However, some recovery is possible, usually in the first few months after a stroke. Strokes can affect vision in various ways.
Homonymous hemianopia is the loss of one half of the visual field in each eye. This can cause words and sentences to disappear when reading and people to appear to have only half a face. Quadrantanopia is the loss of either the upper or lower quarter of the visual field.
Eye movement control issues can occur if the nerves that control eye movement are damaged. This can lead to eye turning (strabismus) or double vision (diplopia). Other problems include an eyelid droop (ptosis) or an enlarged pupil.
Nystagmus, or constant unsteady movement of the eyes, can also occur. This can cause jittery eye movements and flickering when trying to focus on something.
Visual neglect and agnosia are other possible consequences of a stroke. People with visual neglect are unaware of and do not respond to things on their stroke-affected side. Those with visual agnosia have difficulty recognising familiar faces and objects due to damage to parts of the brain that interpret and perceive vision.
While complete recovery from vision loss after a stroke is uncommon, proper diagnosis and vision rehabilitation can aid recovery and improve daily activities. Eye doctors, brain doctors, and brain-eye doctor specialists can diagnose vision problems and develop treatment plans, which may include rehabilitation therapies to help survivors compensate for losses and regain function.
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Survivors may experience difficulties with speech and language
A stroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when there is an issue with blood flow to the brain, often due to a blocked artery or bleeding. This interruption in blood flow can cause brain cells to be damaged or die, leading to various symptoms, including difficulties with speech and language.
Speech and language problems are common after a stroke, with about one in three people experiencing some form of language impairment. The specific effects depend on the area of the brain affected, but they can include:
- Aphasia: Aphasia is a condition that affects how people process language, both spoken and written. People with aphasia may be able to think clearly but struggle to understand or use language. There are several types of aphasia, including expressive aphasia (difficulty with spoken and written expression), receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding speech but able to speak fluently), and global aphasia (difficulty with both speech production and comprehension). Aphasia can also impact reading and writing abilities.
- Dysarthria: Dysarthria is a speech disorder caused by weakness or incoordination of the muscles involved in speech production. People with dysarthria may slur their words, mumble, or speak too loudly, too softly, too fast, or too slowly. They may also have difficulty with tongue and lip movement.
- Apraxia of speech: Apraxia of speech is a condition where the brain has difficulty sending the correct signals to the muscles involved in speech. Individuals with apraxia of speech may know what they want to say but have trouble producing the desired sounds. They may also speak slowly or not at all and make inconsistent speech errors.
These conditions can affect a stroke survivor's ability to express their needs and desires, connect with others, and return to work. However, it's important to note that communication problems after a stroke can improve with time and treatment. Speech and language therapy can be highly effective in helping individuals regain their communication skills.
To support a loved one with speech and language difficulties after a stroke:
- Encourage them to practice their communication skills regularly.
- Create a calm and focused environment for communication, free from distractions.
- Use clear and simple language, and ask yes or no questions to aid understanding.
- Maintain a normal tone of voice and avoid baby talk, assuming they can hear and understand you unless indicated otherwise.
- Be open to alternative methods of communication, such as writing pads, cue cards, pictures, gestures, or computer programs.
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Frequently asked questions
Ask the person to smile and check if one side of their face droops or is numb. Ask them to raise both arms and check if one arm drifts downward. Check for slurred or strange speech. If you notice any of these signs, call 911 right away.
Symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Other symptoms include confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance, and a severe headache with no known cause.
If you think someone is having a stroke, act quickly. Call 911 right away and note the time when the symptoms first appeared. Do not drive to the hospital, call for an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin treatment immediately.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a "mini-stroke" or a warning stroke. It is a medical emergency with the same symptoms as a stroke, but the symptoms may only last a few minutes to 24 hours. TIAs are considered warning strokes as they are associated with a higher risk of having a full-blown stroke or other cardiovascular problems later. If you think you or someone else has had a TIA, seek medical attention immediately.