A stroke occurs when the constant supply of oxygenized and nutrient-rich blood to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced. This leads to an almost immediate decrease in neurological function in that specific part of the brain.

Strokes are very dangerous as brain cells begin to die within minutes of disrupted blood flow, which can cause irreparable damage if not treated with extreme urgency [3].

Some types of strokes are:

Ischemic Stroke refers to a blood clot in one of the brain’s blood vessels (Fig 3).

Figure 3. Ischemic stroke illustration [3].

Hemorrhagic Stroke refers to a rupture in a brain’s blood vessel (Fig 4).

Figure 4. Hemorrhagic stroke illustration [3].

 

Effects of a Stroke on the Brain

Cerebrum (Right and left hemispheres): Impairs movement and sensation, speech and language, eating and swallowing, vision, cognitive ability(thinking, reasoning, judgement and memory), perception and orientation and emotional control.

Right Hemisphere (Creative hemisphere of the brain): Left-sided weakness, paralysis and sensory impairment, visual problems(unable to see left visual field of the eye), spatial and depth perception impairment, memory problems, behavioral changes.

Left Hemisphere (Logical hemisphere of the brain): Right-sided weakness, paralysis and sensory impairment, speech and language understanding impairment (aphasia), inability to see right visual field of the eyes, impairment to do math, organize, reason and analysis, inability to read, write and learn new information.

Cerebellum: Inability to walk, problems with balance and coordination, dizziness, headaches, nausea and vomiting

Brainstem: Problems with breathing and heart functions (autonomous functions), body temperature control, balance and coordination, weakness and paralysis, speaking, eating, vision and high possibility of a coma and death [4].