Symptoms

Strokes can cause many different signs and symptoms. This depends on the area of the brain that is damaged. Some people have multiple areas of damage. Most strokes begin suddenly, develop rapidly, and cause brain damage within minutes. A haemorrhagic stroke also comes on suddenly but is usually associated with a severe sudden headache which is sometimes described as being like a blow to the head.

The most common consequence of a stroke is 'hemiplegia', which means paralysis of one side of the body. The extent of the paralysis, which is usually accompanied by a loss of sensation, is variable and can range from being very mild and affecting only part of the face to being very severe and affecting the face, the arm and the leg. Loss of speech is common when the stroke affects the right side of the body. If it affects the left side, it is often associated with an inability to recognise the left side of the body. Loss of use of the arm and leg may sometimes be accompanied by loss of vision to the affected side. Sometimes people may only have weakness or clumsiness in their hand.

Patients may have difficulty understanding speech or writing or an inability to recognize family members or common objects. They may experience deafness, personality changes, difficulty swallowing and balance problems, known as ataxia. They may not be able to breath on their own. This may require them to be put on a ventilator or artificial breathing machine, in order to survive. A stroke may lead to coma.

The immobility that results from a stroke can lead to the development of an obstruction to the blood in the veins of the leg (venous thrombosis), and part of this obstruction can then break off and produce a life-threatening blockage of the blood supply to the lungs (pulmonary embolus). This complication is a common cause of sudden death following a stroke. Pressure sores (a severe breakdown of tissue to form open wounds that can take a long time to heal) are another complication as they develop in anyone who lies on one part of the body for long periods of time without moving. They are prevented by good nursing care that involves turning the patient regularly from side to side.