The American Stroke Association reports that, in the United States, stroke is the thir- leading cause of death and the primary cause of adult disability. The American Heart Association calls stroke a "brain attack" to stress the need for immediate recognition of stroke symptoms and early medical care. The side effects and symptoms of stroke are dependent on the type of stroke and the area of the brain affected.
Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke
The AHA indicates 80 percent of strokes are ischemic. Ischemic strokes are caused by a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. A person experiencing a stroke may experience sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg. These side effects usually affect only one side of the body. Confusion may be apparent, with the person exhibiting difficulty speaking or understanding verbal or written communication. Sudden loss of vision, blurred vision or double vision may occur. Patients having a stroke may experience dizziness or loss of balance and coordination, which can lead to trouble walking and falling. A sudden onset of severe headache is also a symptom of stroke.
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures and bleeding occurs in the brain. Causes include a ruptured brain aneurysm, a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or severe hypertension. A person experiencing this kind of stroke may suffer a severe headache, a decreased level of consciousness or fainting, visual disturbances and physical weakness.
Effects of a Right Hemisphere Stroke
Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors of the 2006 "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care" textbook explain the effects of a stroke to the right hemisphere of the brain, referred to as a right-sided stroke. The right side of the brain is responsible for visual and spatial awareness, and proprioception (awareness of body position). Symptoms of a stroke to this area include disorientation, loss of depth perception, and possibly weakness or paralysis to the left side of the body. A person may have an inability to recognize faces and suffer personality changes such as impulsiveness, poor judgment and an impaired sense of humor. A loss of the ability to hear different tones can occur, impairing hearing ability.
Patients with a right-sided stroke may exhibit neglect syndrome. A person with neglect syndrome will not be aware of the left side of his body and will fail to wash or dress the left side of his body. The person with this syndrome will not be aware of any injuries that occur to his left side.
Effects of a Left Hemisphere Stroke
The left side of the brain has the centers for math skills and analytical thinking. For a majority of the population, the left side also contains the center for language ability. People who experience a left-sided stroke tend to have slowed thought processes and memory deficits. Stressful situations may provoke anxiety, anger and frustration. People who suffer a left-sided stroke can have difficulty with speaking, writing and reading. Visual field impairments are common and can lead to injuries from falling.
References
- American Stroke Association: Learn About Stroke
- Mayo Clinic: Stroke Symptoms
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing - Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius & M. Linda Workman; 2006
