Effects of stroke

Every stroke is different. Each person affected by stroke will have different problems and different needs.

There are several factors that determine the effects of a stroke and that impact recovery. These factors include:

type of stroke
location of the blocked or burst artery
which area of the brain is damaged
how much brain tissue is permanently damaged
general health before the stroke
level of activity before the stroke.

Each half of the brain is divided into areas called lobes. The different areas control different functions of your body. These functions include how you move your body, receive sensory messages (such as touch, sight or smell), use language and think.

Because different arteries supply different areas of the brain, where the brain is damaged will determine which functions are affected.

The left half of the brain (left hemisphere) controls most functions on the right side of the body, while the right half of the brain (right hemisphere) controls most functions on the left side.

How stroke can affect you

Some of the problems people may have after a stroke include:

Weakness on one side of the body, including arms and legs

Problems controlling or coordinating movements (also arms and legs)

Ignoring one side of your body, which is called neglect

Difficulties swallowing food, drink or your own saliva

Personality and behaviour changes

Having uncontrollable outbursts of emotion without cause, which is called emotional lability

Problems with thinking, memory and insight

Difficulty receiving messages from your senses – smell, touch, taste, sight and hearing

Problems speaking and understanding, or with reading and writing

Feeling worried about having sex or having physical changes that make it difficult

Vision loss

Incontinence

Fatigue.

More information

To find out more about these and other effects of stroke, see the Resources on EnableMe.