Characteristics of a right ischemic stroke include deficits in motor, sensory and behavioral function. Neurological complications may be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity and location of the stroke. The effects of a stroke can be devastating not only to the patient but to the entire family. Recovery takes good support and understanding of the long-term effects.
Impaired Motor Function
Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care", explain that a right sided ischemic stroke that affects motor centers will result in impaired function or loss of function on the left side of the body. This is because motor nerve fibers from the right side of the body cross at the level of the medulla before entering the spinal cord. A patient may experience weakness, loss of muscle tone, spastic muscle tone or paralysis to the left side of her body.
Impaired Proprioception
Proprioception is a person's sense of body position in space, or knowing whether you are standing with your feet on the ground or on your head. Balance and coordination are affected by proprioception. The right side of the brain is highly involved with spatial awareness, movement and balance. A right ischemic stroke can impair these functions, causing difficulties with any physical action. A patient might not even be able to stand still without support, let alone walk safely on his own.
Behavior Changes
Characteristics of a right ischemic stroke include impulsiveness and poor judgment. The American Stroke Association explains that a person who experiences a stroke in the right side of the brain tends to be inquisitive and makes quick decisions. He may be unable to assess dangers in the environment and may overestimate his abilities.
Disorientation can occur and sometimes patients cannot recognize faces. An individual's sense of humor may be impaired. These neurologic complications greatly affect interpersonal relationships, communication and safe maneuvering through the patient's environment.
Visual Sensory Deficits
The visual senses can be altered by a stroke on the right side of the brain. This can lead to loss of depth perception, which makes a person vulnerable to injury. For example, walking, maneuvering steps and scanning the environment for dangers such as cars can be difficult.
Auditory Sensory Deficits
Another characteristic of right ischemic stroke is loss of ability to hear tonal variations. This greatly diminishes hearing capacity and can make comprehending the spoken word difficult.
Neglect Syndrome
Individuals who suffer a right cerebral hemisphere stroke can experience neglect syndrome. This is a complete lack of awareness of the left side of the body. Because the patient cannot feel or move the left side, he will not think to take care of it. He will not dress, wash or notice any injury to his left side.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN, & M. Linda Workman Ph.D; 2006
- American Stroke Association: How Stroke Affects The Brain
