Job Hazards

Long-term Effects of Stroke

Based on facts obtained by the American Heart Association, stroke is the primary cause of long-term disability in the US. A large portion of stroke survivors reach a point of recovery where they are still independent, but some stroke victims are left with lifelong disability and may need to be placed in an assisted living situation.

Typically, a victim of a more serious stroke will need to spend extra time in the rehabilitation clinic working on restoring motor skills and other bodily functions. Some of the issues that may need to be addressed in therapy include:

• Confusion or dementia
• Problems ingesting food
• Droopiness of half of the face or mouth
• Imbalanced equilibrium
• Lack of coordination
• Paralysis of an entire side of the body
• Bladder or bowel control issues
• Eye and ear problems
• Trouble with enunciation
• Weakness

Stroke victims often develop depression after experiencing a stroke, and this depression can even rub off on family members. More and more people are forced to cope with post-stroke hardships as the death toll due to stroke falls and stroke victim survival rates rise.

A small number of stroke patients may experience pain in regions of their bodies where they are lacking all sensation. The cause of this disorder, known as central post-stroke pain, is unconfirmed. It is very difficult to treat, but a group of drugs are currently being studied to minimize post-stroke discomfort.