
A stroke occurs when there is a loss of blood flow to the brain, causing brain cells to die within minutes. The effects of a stroke depend on the type, severity, location, and number of strokes. A right-brain stroke affects the left side of the body and can cause paralysis, sensory changes, vision problems, and behavioural changes. One rare but interesting observation is that a right-brain stroke can also lead to diaphragmatic palsy, or paralysis of the diaphragm, on the left side of the body. This can cause respiratory dysfunction and increase the risk of pneumonia, which is already a common complication of acute stroke.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Diaphragm affected | Left side |
Side of stroke | Right side |
Type of stroke | Ischemic or hemorrhagic |
Risk factors | High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, smoking, personal or family history of stroke, age, race and ethnicity |
Symptoms | Sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg, severe dizziness, balance problems, difficulty walking, head pain, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, trouble seeing, severe headache |
Treatment | Medicines, surgery, rehabilitation |
What You'll Learn
- A right brain stroke can cause paralysis on the left side of the body
- It can lead to sensory changes on the left side of the body
- It can cause vision problems, including loss of vision from the left side of both eyes
- It can result in respiratory dysfunction and pneumonia on the left side
- It can cause a lack of awareness of the left side of the body
A right brain stroke can cause paralysis on the left side of the body
A stroke occurs when there is a loss of blood flow to a particular area of the brain, causing cells to die within a few minutes. The effects of a stroke depend on the location and extent of the damage to the brain tissue.
The brain is the central organ of the human nervous system and is incredibly complex. It is made up of billions of neurons (brain cells) that communicate through synapses. The brain controls both motor and sensory functions throughout the body, including receiving and interpreting information from our senses, and is responsible for thinking, remembering, understanding, planning, reasoning, and problem-solving.
A right brain stroke will affect the left side of the body, as each side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. A right brain stroke can cause paralysis on the left side of the body, known as hemiplegia or hemiparesis, which is diminished strength without total paralysis. This can affect the face, arm, or leg, and muscle stiffness or rigidity can develop in these weak muscles in the months or years after the stroke.
In addition to paralysis, a right brain stroke can cause sensory loss on the left side of the body, vision problems, chewing and swallowing difficulties, cognitive impairments, and behavioural changes.
A rare but interesting observation is that a right brain stroke can cause diaphragmatic palsy on the left side of the body. This is when there is an impairment of the central motor conduction to the diaphragm, causing respiratory dysfunction and an increased risk of pneumonia.
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It can lead to sensory changes on the left side of the body
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. The brain is the central organ of the human nervous system and controls both motor and sensory functions throughout the body. If a stroke occurs and blood flow can't reach the region that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won't work as it should.
A right-sided stroke affects the left side of the body. This can cause left-sided weakness or paralysis and sensory loss. The specific effects of a right-sided stroke may become more obvious as the patient becomes more medically stable in the days after the stroke. Effects can persist for years, and sometimes they improve over time.
One of the rare effects of a right-sided stroke is prosopagnosia, which is an inability to recognize faces. This can occur due to a stroke affecting the right fusiform gyrus, an area near the back of the brain that helps identify faces.
Another distressing characteristic of a right-sided stroke is the patient's deceased attention to the left side of the body or an inability to recognize the area of the body impacted by the stroke. This problem can range from mild to severe.
Neglect can occur when a stroke affects the right parietal lobe (a back part of the brain). This can make it especially difficult to participate in physical therapy and other aspects of rehabilitation.
In summary, a right brain stroke can lead to sensory changes on the left side of the body, including diminished sensation or loss of sensation.
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It can cause vision problems, including loss of vision from the left side of both eyes
A right-brain stroke can cause vision problems, including loss of vision from the left side in both eyes. This is known as left homonymous hemianopia, where the left half of the visual field is lost in each eye. This can affect the entire left side or just the upper or lower parts of the vision. It can cause difficulties with day-to-day tasks such as locating objects, navigating street traffic, or feeling disoriented in crowded places. Reading can also become challenging, as words and sentences disappear when they fall within the missing visual field.
Hemianopia can cause a person to feel as though they are unable to see out of one eye, but in reality, both eyes are affected. This condition can lead to difficulties in perceiving people's faces, giving the impression that they have only half a face. Additionally, it can result in problems with depth perception and directionality, such as distinguishing up from down or front from back.
The impact of a right-brain stroke on vision can also extend to difficulties in recognising objects and people. This challenge may be due to the stroke's effect on the brain's ability to process visual information, leading to issues such as visual hallucinations. Moreover, the stroke can cause eye movement problems, with both eyes struggling to work together, resulting in blurred or double vision.
The nerves controlling eye movement may be damaged, leading to difficulties in moving the eyes to certain positions. This can cause eye turning (strabismus) or double vision (diplopia). Other issues with eye nerves can lead to an eyelid droop (ptosis) or an enlarged pupil. In some cases, the eyes may exhibit constant, unsteady movements known as nystagmus, with jittery motions from side to side, up and down, or in a circular pattern.
Vision problems following a stroke are common, as the eyes send visual information to different parts of the brain involved in seeing. This is known as the visual pathway. When a stroke disrupts this pathway or affects the areas of the brain responsible for processing and interpreting visual information, it can have significant consequences for one's sight.
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It can result in respiratory dysfunction and pneumonia on the left side
A stroke occurs when there is a loss of blood flow to a part of the brain, causing brain cells to die within minutes. The effects of a stroke depend on the type, severity, location, and number of strokes. The brain is divided into three main areas: the cerebrum (the left and right sides of the brain), the cerebellum (the back of the brain), and the brainstem (the base of the brain).
A right-sided stroke affects the left side of the body, which can result in left-sided weakness or paralysis, sensory loss, and vision problems. This can include left homonymous hemianopia, where the left side of vision is affected in both eyes. A right-sided stroke can also cause behavioural changes, such as impulsivity and a quick, inquisitive behavioural style.
In addition to these effects, a right-sided stroke can cause diaphragmatic palsy, a condition where the diaphragm becomes paralysed. This can lead to respiratory dysfunction and a higher incidence of pneumonia on the left side of the lungs. Diaphragmatic palsy is an under-recognised complication of stroke, and its clinical importance is not well known. However, studies have shown that patients with hemiplegia and diaphragmatic palsy experience a greater degree of respiratory dysfunction, including hypoxia, hypocapnia, and acidosis.
Pneumonia is a common complication of acute stroke, affecting about 7% of patients. The risk of pneumonia is three times higher in patients with pneumonia than in those without. Factors that predispose patients to pneumonia include altered consciousness, impaired swallowing, and a weak cough reflex. Diaphragmatic palsy may also be a contributing factor towards the development of pneumonia, as an increased incidence of pneumonia has been observed on the hemiparetic side in patients with stroke. This could be due to a weak cough on the side with diaphragmatic palsy. However, further large-scale studies are needed to validate this relationship.
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It can cause a lack of awareness of the left side of the body
A right-sided stroke can cause a lack of awareness of the left side of the body, which is a condition known as ""neglect". This can manifest as a lack of concern for the affected side, and can make rehabilitation more challenging.
The brain is responsible for numerous functions, including receiving and interpreting information from the senses, as well as controlling motor and sensory functions throughout the body. When a stroke occurs, blood flow to a region of the brain is cut off, causing brain cells to die within minutes and potentially resulting in lasting brain damage or long-term disability. The effects of a stroke depend on the location and extent of the damage to the brain tissue.
The brain is divided into the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. The cerebrum, located in the left and right sides of the brain, controls movement, feeling, chewing, swallowing, cognitive abilities, awareness of surroundings, and bowel and bladder control. The cerebellum, located at the back of the brain, manages muscle action and controls fine movement, coordination, and balance. The brain stem, located at the base of the brain, controls vital functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and breathing, as well as eye movement, hearing, speech, chewing, and swallowing.
A right-sided stroke occurs in the right hemisphere of the cerebrum and affects the left side of the body. Specific effects of a right-sided stroke on the left side of the body include left-sided weakness or paralysis, sensory loss, vision problems, problems with depth perception, and behavioural changes. One rare effect is prosopagnosia, which is the inability to recognize faces.
In the case of diaphragmatic palsy, which is an unusual complication of a stroke, the condition can occur in patients with an acute stroke, especially if it affects the internal capsule. Diaphragmatic palsy can lead to respiratory dysfunction and an increased risk of pneumonia on the affected side. However, more research is needed to fully understand the clinical implications of diaphragmatic palsy in stroke patients.
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Frequently asked questions
A stroke happens when there is a loss of blood flow to the brain. Brain cells begin to die within minutes as they are deprived of oxygen and nutrients from blood. This can cause brain damage, long-term disability, or death.
A right-brain stroke will affect the left side of the body. Effects can include left-sided weakness or paralysis, loss of vision from the left side of both eyes, personality changes, and neglect of the left side of the body.
A right-brain stroke can cause diaphragmatic palsy on the left side of the body, which can lead to respiratory dysfunction and pneumonia.