Left vs. Right Brain Strokes

Every year in the United States, about 800,000 people have a stroke, according to the Stroke Awareness Foundation. That’s roughly one stroke every 40 seconds. About 140,000 of those people die from strokes, a leading cause of both death and long-term disability.

While most people are aware of strokes, many don’t understand that strokes can happen in different ways and affect different parts of the brain. Knowing about this difference is an important part of stroke awareness, which in turn can help you seek treatment for stroke symptoms as quickly as possible.

As a leading neurology practice in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, Advanced Medical Care helps patients understand their stroke risk, take steps to prevent stroke, and get the treatment they need following a stroke. In this post, our team provides an overview of strokes and explains the key differences between strokes affecting the left and right brain.

Understanding strokes

Also called a brain attack, a stroke happens when blood flow to or within the brain is interrupted, preventing part of the brain from receiving oxygen and nutrients. When oxygen supply declines, brain cells begin dying almost instantly, which is why prompt treatment is so very critical.

There are two primary types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are more common, occurring when a blood clot or other obstruction blocks a blood vessel and prevents blood flow to a part of the brain.

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel inside your brain bursts or leaks blood. As the blood accumulates, it puts pressure on brain cells, resulting in cell death. Both types of strokes can cause permanent brain damage and death.

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or ministrokes are stroke-like events that happen when blood flow is briefly interrupted. Though not a full-blown stroke, a TIA is often a sign that a stroke may be imminent.

Left brain vs. right brain strokes

Strokes tend to affect one hemisphere of the brain: left or right. Because each side of your brain controls different functions, a stroke in either the left or right hemisphere can affect those functions, too.

Your brain hemispheres control movement and motor skills on the opposite side of your body: Your left hemisphere controls the right side of your body, while the right hemisphere controls the left side of your body. A stroke in the left hemisphere tends to cause weakness and loss of mobility on your right side, while a right-brain stroke causes weakness or paralysis on the left side of your body.

That’s not the only difference between the hemispheres. Your left hemisphere is highly involved in speech, language, reasoning, and problem-solving. Strokes on the left side of your brain can therefore affect your ability to speak, to read or write, or to understand conversations. You might have problems with concentration or short-term memory.

The right side of your brain controls creativity, imagination, and spatial awareness. In addition to left-sided weakness, right-brain strokes can cause symptoms like behavioral or mood changes, along with problems judging distances or navigating spaces. Some people with right-brain strokes have difficulty recognizing familiar faces, a condition called prosopagnosia.

Recovering from stroke

Stroke rehabilitation plays a key role in recovering from a cerebrovascular accident. Not surprisingly, rehabilitation programs and activities differ based in part on the side of the brain that’s been affected, along with other factors, like the severity of the stroke. 

If you or a loved one has had a stroke or if you’re at risk for strokes, our team can help. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Advanced Medical Care in Forest Hills, Queens, and Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.