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After having a stroke, the person may have several mild or severe sequelae, depending on the affected region of the brain, as well as the time that region was without receiving blood. The most common sequel is the loss of strength, which can end up causing difficulty in walking or speaking, which are consequences that can be temporary or remain for life.
To reduce the limitations caused by the stroke, it may be necessary to undergo physical therapy, speech therapy and cognitive stimulation with the help of a physical therapist, speech therapist or nurse to gain more autonomy and recover, as initially the person may be much more dependent on someone else for perform day-to-day tasks, such as bathing or eating.
The following is a list of the most common sequelae in people who have suffered a stroke:
1. Difficulty moving the body
The difficulty in walking, lying or sitting occurs due to loss of strength, muscle and balance on one side of the body, with the arm and leg on one side of the body paralyzed, a situation known as hemiplegia.
In addition, the sensitivity of the affected arm or leg may also be decreased, increasing the risk of the person falling and being injured.
2. Changes in the face
After a stroke, the face may become asymmetrical, with a crooked mouth, a forehead without wrinkles and a droopy eye on only one side of the face.
Some people may also have difficulty swallowing food, whether solid or liquid, known as dysphagia, which increases the risk of choking. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt the food to the capacity of each person to eat, preparing small soft foods or using thickeners to improve the consistency of meals. In addition, the person can see and hear worse from the side that has the changes.
3. Difficulty speaking
Many people find it difficult to speak, having a very low tone of voice, not being able to say a few words completely or even completely losing the ability to speak, which makes it difficult to interact with family and friends.
In these cases, if the person knows how to write, preference can be given to written communication. In addition, many people end up developing sign language to be able to communicate with those closest to them.
4. Urinary and fecal incontinence
Urinary and fecal incontinence is frequent, as the person may lose sensitivity to identify when they feel like going to the bathroom, and it is recommended to wear a diaper to be more comfortable.
5. Confusion and memory loss
Confusion after a stroke is also a relatively frequent sequel. This confusion includes behaviors such as having difficulty understanding simple orders or recognizing familiar objects, not knowing what they are for, nor how they are used.
In addition, depending on the region of the brain affected, some people may also suffer from memory loss, which ends up hampering the person's ability to orient themselves in time and space.
6. Depression and feelings of revolt
People who have had a stroke have a higher risk of developing severe depression, which can be caused by some hormonal change influenced by brain damage, but also by the difficulty of living with the limitations imposed by the stroke.
How is recovery after stroke
To reduce the limitations that the stroke causes and recover some damage caused by the disease, it is essential to treat with a multidisciplinary team, even after hospital discharge. Some therapies that can be used are:
- Physiotherapy sessions with a specialized physiotherapist to help the patient regain balance, shape and muscle tone, being able to walk, sit and lie down alone.
- Cognitive stimulation with occupational therapists and nurses who perform games and activities to reduce confusion and inappropriate behavior;
- Speech therapy with speech therapists in order to recover the ability to express themselves.
Treatment should be started as soon as possible while still in the hospital and maintained in rehabilitation clinics or at home, and should be carried out daily so that the person can regain greater independence and gain more quality of life.
The length of stay in the hospital depends on the severity of the stroke, however, in most cases, it is at least one week in the hospital, and can be maintained for another month in a rehabilitation clinic. In addition, at home it is necessary to continue doing the treatment to reduce the long-term consequences.