Stroke Signs & Symptoms (post-stroke)

Conditions & Diseases: Brain & Nervous System

Strokes

Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

A stroke often appears suddenly, without warning, and its effects on the body are immediate. The common symptoms of a stroke, which appear afterwards, include:

* Sudden numbness, weakness, clumsiness, or paralysis on one side of the body. An example of this symptom can be a dropping arm or leg, eyelid, or dribbling mouth. This is one of the most common and recognisable stroke symptoms. This symptom affects only one side of the body and causes difficulties in controlling the arm or leg. In the worst cases, the weakness or paralysis is accompanied by muscle and joint stiffness.

* Sudden confusion, slurred speech, trouble speaking, or understanding speech. This is another common symptom in patients that had a stroke. This symptom also includes difficulties reading and writing.

* Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes. The stroke can damage that part of the brain that receives, processes, and interprets the information sent by the eyes to the brain. This can lead to a variety of problems such as double vision, or losing half of the vision field (the person can see only on one side).

* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or loss of coordination.

* Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

* Loss of balance or unsteadiness. This can be the result of damage in the part of the brain responsible with the body's balance, or as a result of paralysis when the muscle become weak.

* Dysphagia or difficulties swallowing is another common symptom in patients with stroke. About 50 percent of those that have a stroke have swallowing problems.

* Perception and interpretation difficulties. People that suffered a stroke have difficulties recognizing familiar objects or knowing how to use them.

* Mental processes impairment. After a stroke, the person can have problems thinking, learning, remembering, concentrating, making decisions, reasoning, and planning.

* Incontinence (difficulties controlling the bladder and bowel) can be common right after a stroke, but the problem resolves itself over time.

* Mood swings. People that suffer a stroke experience emotional ups and downs. They can become depressed, sad, angry, anxious, experience low self-esteem and low confidence.

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com
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Page Last Modified:
12/04/2010