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What are the effects from having a stroke?

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The type and extent of disability caused by a stroke can vary greatly. It depends on the extent of the damage to the brain.

A large stroke can cause death. A small stroke may cause minor problems, which may go completely over time. In many cases, the effects are somewhere in between these two extremes.

The sort of problems that may occur include one or more of the following:

Weakness of one side of the body. This may cause problems with walking if a leg is affected, or problems using an arm or hand properly.
Problems with balance and co-ordination.
Swallowing problems are common. In some cases this can be dangerous as food may go down the windpipe rather than down the gullet when you eat. Because of this it is usual to do 'swallow test' on all people with a stroke before they are allowed to eat or drink. This is to make sure that swallowing is safe. If there is severe difficulty with swallowing then you may need to have food and drinks passed into your stomach via a tube.
Speech and communication difficulties. This may range from a difficulty in finding the correct words to say in the middle of a sentence, to being completely unable to speak. Also, understanding speech, reading, or writing may be affected.
Difficulty with vision. If a part of the brain that deals with vision is affected then problems may arise. For example, some people who have had a stroke have double vision, and some people lose half of their field of vision.
Difficulties with mental processes. For example, difficulty in learning, concentrating, remembering, etc.
Inappropriate emotions. For example, following a stroke, some people cry or laugh at times for no apparent reason.
Tiredness.

The above are just some examples of what may occur following a stroke. Every stroke is different and the problems and difficulties have to be assessed for each affected person.

In the first few weeks after a stroke the swelling and inflammation around the damaged brain tissue settles down. Some symptoms may then improve. In time, sometimes other parts of the brain can compensate for the damaged part of the brain. With rehabilitation and appropriate therapy, there may be a gradual improvement.

Of those who survive a stroke, about 3 in 10 are fully independent within three weeks, and this rises to about 5 in 10 within six months. However, it is common for some degree of disability to remain.