Stroke, Part One: A Patient Guide

The cerebellum

The cerebellum is responsible for most of our reflexes, balance and coordination. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, abnormal reflexes, and coordination problems all result from strokes that occur in the cerebellum.

The left hemisphere of the cerebrum

The left side of the brain (or left hemisphere) is the dominant side of the brain for most people. It controls speech and language functions, as well as movement of the right side of the body. A person who has suffered a left hemisphere stroke may experience the following:

• Paralysis on some or all of the right side of the body. Paralysis on one side of the body is known as "hemiplegia".
• Aphasia -- a loss or impairment of any element of language including comprehension, speech and communication abilities.
• Slow, cautious behavior or unexpected mood swings, sudden laughing or crying.
• Difficulty completing tasks without repeated instruction.
• Difficulty with mathematical skills, memory and conceptual ability.

The right hemisphere of the cerebrum

The right side of the brain is responsible for the movement of the left side of the body; a stroke in the right hemisphere can cause left-sided hemiplegia. Other effects may include:

• Problems with spatial and perceptual abilities, for example, the inability to judge distance, or to place a glass on a table. Patients who have experienced this type of stroke often display impulsive behavior without being aware of their actual impairments. They might try to climb a flight of stairs and fall down, for example.
• Left-sided neglect, meaning that objects or people on the left side are often "neglected" or not seen as a result of visual impairments.
• Short-term memory loss.
• Vague emotional responses.
• Impaired musical and artistic abilities.

The brain stem

The brain stem controls all of our life support activities -- breathing, heartbeat and blood pressure. Many aspects of our senses also are also supported by the brain stem, such as hearing, eye movement, speech and swallowing. A stroke to the brain stem can cause vision impairments, the inability to swallow, paralysis and death.