Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (called an ischemic stroke) or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain (called a hemorrhagic stroke). A transient ischemic attack, or “mini stroke,” is caused by a temporary clot.
Effects of Stroke
If a stroke occurs and blood flow can’t reach the area that controls a particular body function, that part of the body stops working as it should. If the stroke occurs toward the back of the brain, for example, it’s likely that some level of vision will be impaired.
The effects of a stroke depend on several factors, including the location of the blockage and how much brain tissue is affected. However, because one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body, a stroke affecting one side will result in neurological complications on the side of the body it affects. For example, if the stroke occurs in the brain’s right side, the left side of the body (and the left side of the face) will be affected, which could produce any or all of the following:
Paralysis on the left side of the body Vision problems including visual illusions Quick, inquisitive behavioral style Memory loss
If the stroke occurs in the left side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected, producing some or all of the following:
Paralysis on the right side of the bodySpeech/language problemsSlow, cautious behavioral styleMemory loss
When a stroke occurs in the brain stem, depending on the severity of the injury, it can affect both sides of the body and may leave someone in a “locked-in” state. When a locked-in state occurs, the patient is generally unable to speak or achieve any movement below the neck.
Types of Visual Illusions
Examples of visual illusions include when a person sees two or more objects in front of them when there is only one; when everything appears to be the same color all of the time; or when people or objects appear to be much larger or smaller than they actually are.
