Stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. 

Symptoms of a stroke happen quickly. A stroke may cause sudden:

• Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. You may have double vision, or things may look dim or blurry.
• Confusion or trouble understanding.
• Slurred or garbled speech.
• Trouble walking. You may feel unsteady, dizzy, or clumsy.
• Severe headache.

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 or other emergency services right away.

The Effects of Strokes

Stroke can cause permanent neurological damage, complications and death if not promptly diagnosed and treated. The effects of a stroke depend on where the brain was injured, as well as how much damage occurred. A stroke can impact any number of areas including your ability to move, see, remember, speak, reason and read and write.

The most common form of Stroke happens in the cerebrum.  The cerebrum is divided into the right and left sides – or hemispheres. It is responsible for controlling movement and sensation, speech, thinking, reasoning, memory, sexual function, and regulation of emotions.

Effects of left hemisphere strokes include:

• Weakness or paralysis on the right side of your body.
• Trouble reading, talking, thinking or doing math. Your behaviour may become more slow and cautious than usual.
• You may have trouble learning or remembering new information.
• You may need frequent instructions and feedback to finish tasks.

Effects of right hemisphere strokes include:

• Weakness or paralysis on the left side of your body
• Vision problems.
• Problems distinguishing distance, depth, between up and down, or between front and back.
• Problems understanding maps.
• Problems with short-term memory.
• Forgetting or ignoring objects or people on your left side.
• Judgement difficulties, such as acting impulsively.

Symptoms of other forms of Stroke include:

• Inability to walk and problems with coordination and balance (called ataxia).
• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Breathing and heart function.
• Body temperature control.
• Balance and coordination.
• Weakness or paralysis of your arms and legs on both sides of the body.
• Chewing, swallowing and speaking.
• Vision.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States and Europe.  Risk factors for stroke include: advanced age, hypertension (high blood pressure), previous stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, and cigarette smoking, among others.  Blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor of stroke.

Help from Retire-At-Home

Our health care management team is very knowledgeable in developing a personalized Care Plan to suit you if you are a Stroke victim.  We also have Caregivers that are experienced in working with Stroke Victims to ensure you are receiving the proper care.

Receive help with your recovery from Stroke, and contact us today to find out how Retire-At-Home can help you!

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