A stroke is caused by a blood clot or bleeding in the brain. The specific damage depends on where the clot or bleeding is, how much of the brain is deprived of nutrients, and for how long.
Right-Hemisphere Stroke
The right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body. Damage to this area affects perceptual tasks, such as judging distance, size, speed, or position. Poor perceptual skills can lead to falls or inability to handle a pen or eating utensils.
Damage can result in paralysis of the left side of the body. The person with right hemisphere damage might be unaware of people or objects on their left side. Right hemisphere damage can impair short-term memory, although long-term memory could still be intact.
A person might believe he or she can perform tasks that actually cannot be done, such as driving a car or walking without a walker or cane.
Left-Hemisphere Stroke
The left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body. Damage to the left hemisphere can impair speech and language abilities and can result in paralysis of the right side of the body. There might be difficulty retaining current information.
Those with left hemisphere damage might also need a lot of encouragement and instruction to complete simple tasks.
Cerebellar Stroke
Damage to the cerebellum can cause coordination and balance problems. Dizziness and nausea are common.
Brain Stem Stroke
The brain stem controls involuntary "life-support" functions including breathing, eye movements, regular heartbeat, and blood pressure. Damage to the brain stem can be life-threatening and result in complete paralysis. |
