5 Lingering Effects of a Stroke

A stroke interrupts blood flow to the brain, causing cells in the region to die. The most common type, an ischemic stroke, happens when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain.

While most strokes aren’t fatal, numerous after-effects can linger on. Attempting to cope with such issues on your own can be risky and frustrating. On the other hand, knowing what to expect and seeking professional support can go far.

Board-certified neurologist Dr. Farhad Elyaderani and his team, located in New Rochelle and Yonkers, New York, provide prompt medical treatment and follow-up care after a stroke to help you recover smoothly and thrive. 

Here’s a look at stroke complications that can carry on for a while.

1. Muscle weakness or paralysis

A stroke interferes with pathways in the brain that allow you to use your muscles normally. As a result, both muscle weakness and paralysis – often on one side of the body – are common. 

Rehabilitation treatment, such as physical therapy, can help retrain your brain and muscles to restore normal use. This type of care is especially important during the first three months following a stroke when you’re likely to experience the most improvement.

2. Speech challenges

You may have difficulty speaking or communicating after a stroke, a condition known as aphasia. You could experience a lot of improvement within the first several weeks, with additional progress occurring over 3-6 months. For some patients, though, stroke-related speech problems last for years.

Speech therapy can enhance your linguistic recovery through special techniques. Programmed stimulation, for example, uses music and images to strengthen verbal communication. Stimulation-facilitation therapy focuses on comprehending word meanings and grammar.

3. Anxious moods

A stroke is a significant event that can easily bring on anxious moods due to brain changes, concerns about complications, and more. About 25% of stroke survivors experience anxiety within five years. 

If anxiety interferes with your well-being or doesn’t improve over time, we may recommend psychological counseling. Other practices, such as eating well, staying hydrated, and leaning on loved ones for support, can also bring emotional ease.

4. Vision changes

A stroke can impact your vision in a range of ways. Possible changes include:

• A blind spot in your vision (visual field loss)
• Difficulty tracking objects (ocular motor dysfunction)
• Poor visual memory
• Reduced depth perception
• Reading difficulties
• Seeing double

You can also develop spatial inattention or neglect, which leads you to ignore things like half of your meal plates.

We can refer you to an ophthalmologist to treat your vision issues using tactics like visual training and eye exercises. Some visual conditions, such as ocular motor dysfunction, seldom improve without treatment.

5. Memory challenges

A stroke can hinder your short- and long-term memory, often lasting for weeks or months. You might forget statements you just heard or struggle to recall the names of people you’ve known for years. Losing items and forgetting about appointments are common post-stroke, too.

Our team can guide you through particular memory exercises to help strengthen your memory. We may also recommend music-based therapies. One study showed that listening to vocal music, in particular, improves emotional processing and memory after a stroke.

To learn more about the lasting effects of a stroke or to receive compassionate support, call Dr. Farhad Elyaderani or request an appointment online today.