What happens if the dominant side of your brain is affected by a stroke?
A left-sidedstrokeis a stroke that damages the left side of thebrain.
A stroke can beischemic(because of an obstruction) orhemorrhagic(because of bleeding in the brain).
Verywell / Daniel Fishel
A stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Recovery may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Additionally, the accumulation of blood can cause further damage in nearby areas.
In some people, seizures can persist even after the blood is completely reabsorbed.
This most commonly happens when the blood affects an area of the brain that controls motor function.
Left-sided strokes occur about as frequently as right-sided strokes.
Signs of a Left-Sided Stroke
There are severalsigns of a left-sided stroke.
They include:
Get immediate medical attention if you or someone else experiences any of these symptoms.
A stroke is a medical emergency that can worsen quickly, causing disability or death.
The long-term effects can be minimized if treatment is started promptly.
After months or longer, the weak areas of the body can become gradually stronger and more coordinated.
Individuals with moderate-to-severe weakness are more likely to experience spasticity, with stiffness and tightness of the muscles.
Diminished sensation can involve the face, arm, and/or leg, and sometimes the torso.
In addition to decreased sensation, sometimesparesthesiascan occur in the same areas that have diminished sensation.
Paresthesias involve numbness, tingling, burning, or a sense of pins and needles.
They can occur when the specific area of the body is touched or without a trigger.
Aphasia
Left-sided strokes are known to cause aphasia, which is a language deficit.
Wernickesaphasia, also called fluent aphasia, causes difficulty understanding language.
Language Centers
Aphasia happens when the language areas of the brain are damaged.
Language is usually located on the left hemisphere of the brain.
Some people who are left-handed have the language centers on the right side of the brain.
Dysphagia
A stroke can cause difficulty swallowing, which is also known as dysphagia.
This can happen if the stroke affects the part of the brain that coordinates your swallowing muscles.
Apraxia of Speech
Speechapraxiais difficulty with the brain’s control of the motor movements of speech.
It can affect the upper or lower field of vision or both.
Generally, a larger stroke is expected to cause more severe cognitive impairments.
Treatment for Left-Sided Strokes
A stroke should be treated immediately after symptoms begin.
Calling for emergency transport to the hospital is important to get rapid and proper medical attention on arrival.
It helps break up the blood clot that is causing the blockage in your brain.
Some people require surgery to remove the clot in the brain, called a thrombectomy.
A surgical equipment is then used to remove the blockage.
You may also receive vitamin K, which can help stop bleeding.
Medical procedures used to treat a hemorrhagic stroke include surgery to clamp the aneurysm and stop the bleeding.
A tiny coil that helps blood clot is then inserted into the aneurysm.
You may also need surgery to drain excess fluid or pooled blood.
Sometimes, a part of the skull is temporarily removed so you can relieve pressure.
You may also need a blood transfusion to replace blood lost during the stroke or during surgery.
Rehabilitation and Recovery
After your condition is stabilized, treatment focuses on recovery andrehabilitation.
It can take time and hard work, but it is important to be patient and maintain connections.
It can take months or longer to improve after a stroke.
A person may recover almost completely or have substantial permanent handicaps after a stroke.
Prevention
After you have had a stroke, you are at higher risk of having another one.
It is important that you follow your healthcare provider’s guidance for preventing another stroke.
Stroke prevention is a comprehensive strategy that involves reducing the risk of cerebrovascular disease.
Prevention involves medication, diet, and lifestyle approaches.
A stroke is a medical emergency, and immediate treatment can help prevent disability or death.
Recovery after a left-sided stroke involves physical rehabilitation, as well as speech and language therapy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke facts.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Stroke.
National Institute of Health.Dysphagia.
A multivariate lesion-symptom mapping study in acute stroke patients.Exp Brain Res.2021.
2021:110. doi:10.1007/s11682-021-00580-y
National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute.Stroke treatment.
American Stroke Association.Rehab therapy after a stroke.
