How a Stroke Can Affect You Neurologically

When a stroke occurs, it means a blood vessel in your brain is either blocked (ischemic stroke), severely narrowed, or ruptured (hemorrhagic stroke). In each case, you suddenly lose blood flow to your brain, and cells die.

They say “time is brain” because you lose more cells with each passing moment. Depending on the severity, location, and type of stroke you have, you’ll experience various neurological symptoms.

Our team of experts at Advanced Medical Care in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, specialize in diagnosing and treating strokes, working quickly and skillfully to preserve your healthy brain cells. This blog explains how a stroke can affect you neurologically.

Get to know your brain anatomy

Because the stroke’s location influences the symptoms you experience, let’s take a crash course in brain anatomy.

Your brain has three main regions: 

• Cerebellum: top and front
• Cerebrum: left and right sides
• Brainstem: brain base

Each region controls different functions. 

Different neurological symptoms for different stroke locations

Although the region affected dictates the symptoms, the top three signs that someone has experienced a stroke, plus a reminder to seek help immediately, create an easy-to-remember acronym — FAST — which stands for:

• Face drooping
• Arm weakness, numbness, or tingling
• Speech difficulty
• Time to call 911

Beyond those initial effects, you can expect specific neurological symptoms depending on the stroke location. 

Left side cerebrum stroke symptoms:

• Paralysis or weakness on your right side
• Vision problems in your right eye
• Speech and language problems
• Inability to perform math functions
• Organizational and reasoning difficulty
• Increased depression and cautiousness
• Memory impairment
• Reading and writing problems

Right side cerebrum stroke symptoms:

• Paralysis or weakness on your left side
• Vision problems in your left eye
• Impaired depth perception and spatial understanding
• Can’t identify body parts, clothing items, maps, etc.
• Memory problems
• Denial of stroke symptoms
• Increased impulsivity, apathy, inappropriate behavior

Cerebellum stroke symptoms:

• Lack of coordination
• Lack of balance
• Decreased fine motor skills
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache

Brainstem stroke symptoms:

• Erratic body temperature
• Paralysis or weakness
• Vision problems
• Cardiac problems
• Respiratory problems
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing, and chewing

Coma and death are also possible with a brainstem stroke.

Hope for life after a stroke

The good news is that our Advanced Medical Care specialists, including neurologists, cardiologists, and physical therapists, can help you recover and overcome most or all of these neurological effects. But remember, time is brain — the sooner you get help, the better your chances of a full recovery. 

Call Advanced Medical Care in Brooklyn or Queens, or book online to schedule an appointment for stroke treatment.