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Impacts of Stroke on the Left Side of the Brain: Understanding the Areas Affected
A stroke on the left side of the brain creates a variety of potential complications. This comprehensive article will delve into the specific brain areas that can be affected by a left-brain stroke and available treatment options.
We hope this will shed light on the potential side effects and offer insights and opportunities for relief for those affected by this condition.
The Role of the Left Hemisphere
The brain’s left hemisphere plays a significant role in various vital functions, making it crucial to comprehend its responsibilities before exploring the damages caused by a left-brain stroke.
1. Language Processing
The left hemisphere is mainly responsible for processing language in most people. It is in charge of understanding and expressing language, as well as comprehending writing and speech. “Aphasia” is the phrase used when you’re unable to process language. There are several types, which we will explore later in this article.
2. Speech Production
The left side of the brain, specifically the dominant hemisphere, is responsible for speech production. This Area, known as Broca’s Area, located in the left frontal lobe, coordinates processes required for speech. It activates a series of events involving motor planning, muscle coordination for articulation, retrieval of words, and grammar sequencing.
3. Analytical Thinking
The left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for analytical thinking. It helps people break down complex concepts or tasks into smaller, more manageable components. It also helps us process information, analyze problems, and make rational decisions. These functions allow for practical problem-solving, staying focused, and organization.
4. Right-Sided Motor Control
The brain’s left hemisphere controls movement on the right side of the body due to how the nervous system is structured. This is known as “contralateral control.” The arms, legs, trunk muscles, and muscles of the face on the right side are all controlled by something called the “motor strip” on the opposite side.
The Area that controls sensations on the right side is next to the motor strip. Hence, injuries affecting one often involve the altered function of both.
5: Autonomic Control of Parasympathetic Activity
The left hemisphere of the brain contributes to the regulation of autonomic responses. It plays a vital role in modulating and influencing parasympathetic functions through its connections with other brain regions.
This connectivity ensures proper communication and coordination between various areas involved in regulating parasympathetic responses, ultimately contributing to the balance of autonomic functions within the body.
When we say “autonomic,” this refers to the balance of the “fight or flight” system against the “rest and digest” functions. Proper balance of these two systems is vital to a healthy brain and body.
Commonly Affected Functions of a Left Brain Stroke
1. Weakness or paralysis on the right side of the body
Left-sided strokes commonly cause weakness or paralysis on the right side of the body, known as hemiparesis or hemiplegia. This occurs due to disrupted communication from the left brain down to the spinal cord on the right. Hemiparesis refers to partial weakness, while hemiplegia refers to complete paralysis. Both conditions present challenges for daily activities, mobility, and independence.
2. Difficulty speaking or understanding language (aphasia).
Broca’s Area is located in the frontal lobe. Damage to this area may lead to expressive aphasia, making speaking fluently or pronouncing words appropriately challenging. Individuals with damage to Broca’s Area may understand language but struggle to express themselves verbally.
Wernicke’s Area is located in the temporal lobe. Damage to this Area can result in receptive aphasia, which impairs the understanding of spoken language and can cause individuals to produce sentences that lack coherence or make little sense.
3. Challenges with reading or writing (alexia and agraphia).
After a left brain stroke, people can experience difficulties with reading (alexia) and writing (agraphia). Alexia refers to having trouble reading, while agraphia refers to difficulty writing. These issues occur when the parts of the brain responsible for language processing and written symbols are affected.
Damage to areas like the angular gyrus can lead to problems recognizing and understanding written words. People with dyslexia may struggle with letters, phrases, or sentences. Similarly, agraphia can result from problems with motor coordination and linguistic processing, making it challenging to write accurately and coherently.
4. Problems with logical reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
The frontal lobe, particularly the prefrontal cortex, is crucial for executive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and impulse control. Damage to this Area can lead to challenges in these domains, affecting an individual’s ability to perform complex tasks and regulate behavior.
ADHD is associated with dysfunction in this area as well. Executive functioning difficulties post stroke may mimic this in terms of distractibility and ability to complete tasks.
5. Impaired memory, particularly in terms of verbal recall and retention.
Memory problems are common after a stroke in the left side of the brain. This often affects the ability to remember and retain verbal information such as words, conversations, and things learned in the past. The left side of the brain, especially the temporal lobe and hippocampus, is essential for processing verbal information.
When these areas are damaged, people may have trouble remembering specific words or names, participating in conversations, and learning new verbal information. Long-term memory can also be affected, making remembering past events or facts difficult.
6. Changes in personality and mood, including emotional lability and depression.
A left-brain stroke can have an impact on emotional and psychological well-being. Damage to the left hemisphere may result in emotional lability, causing mood swings and difficulty regulating emotions.
Additionally, individuals may experience depression, anxiety, or a lack of motivation, potentially linked to changes in the brain’s reward and pleasure pathways.
The classic example of Phineas Gage is a great example. He suffered an injury where a railroad spike penetrates his head, damaging his left frontal lobe. His personality and overall demeanor changed drastically.
7. Decreased attention span and reduced ability to concentrate.
After a left-sided stroke, people may struggle to pay attention and concentrate. When it’s affected by a stroke, it can lead to difficulties in staying focused, ignoring distractions, and concentrating on tasks for a long time. This can impact work, social interactions, and everyday activities.
People may also need help multitasking or paying attention to multiple things simultaneously. Strategies such as creating a structured environment, and using visual or auditory cues can be helpful to improve attention after a stroke.
8. Spatial Awareness
The posterior parietal cortex, which is responsible for spatial awareness and attention to the left side of the body and objects, can be affected by a left-brain stroke. This can lead to a condition known as neglect, where individuals have difficulty acknowledging or attending to the left side of their body or visual field.
9. Challenges with motor planning and coordination.
A stroke on the left side of the brain can cause difficulties with planning and coordinating movements. The left hemisphere of the brain controls fine motor skills and movement coordination in conjunction with the opposite cerebellum.
Poor input into the cerebellum will result in problems with planning, executing, and coordinating movements on the right side of the body. People may struggle with precise movements like writing, buttoning clothes, or using utensils.
Tasks that used to be easy may become problematic, affecting independence and overall quality of life.
10. Impaired swallowing or difficulty controlling facial muscles (dysphagia).
After a left brain stroke, individuals may experience difficulty controlling the facial, tongue, and throat muscles required for chewing and swallowing food or liquids safely. Each brain hemisphere controls cranial nerves, which help control the head, face, and mouth functions. This can cause problems such as choking, coughing during meals, and a feeling of food sticking in the throat. Dysphagia can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, or respiratory issues if not appropriately managed.
11. Sensory changes, such as numbness or tingling on the right side of the body.
A stroke in the left brain can cause sensory changes on the right side of the body. These changes often include numbness or tingling sensations due to disruptions in the nerve pathways that transmit information to the brain.
The damage from the injury can result in altered or reduced perception of touch, temperature, and proprioception on the affected side. People may feel numbness, “pins and needles,” or a loss of sensation on the right side of their body. These sensory changes can impact the ability to detect and interpret sensory stimuli accurately, affecting daily activities and coordination.
12. Visual impairments, including losing the left visual field (hemianopia).
A left brain stroke can cause visual impairments, with one typical result being the loss of the left visual field, known as hemianopia. Individuals may experience partial or complete vision loss in the left half of their visual field. This can lead to difficulty perceiving objects, people, or obstacles in their left-sided peripheral vision. Reading, navigating crowded spaces, or driving can become challenging.
13. Fatigue, decreased energy levels, and difficulty with endurance.
After a left brain stroke, individuals often experience increased fatigue. Fatigue may present as persistent tiredness, reduced energy, and challenges in maintaining endurance. People may find it hard to engage in activities for long periods, experience decreased attention and concentration, and have reduced stamina. This closely ties into the problems with motivation and planning. When these functions are impaired in conjunction with a lack of energy, completing tasks becomes challenging.
14. Reduced ability to sense and respond to pain or temperature changes.
Damage to the left hemisphere can disrupt the neural pathways responsible for processing pain and temperature sensations, leading to sensory perception alterations.
Individuals may experience a diminished sensitivity or complete loss of awareness towards pain or temperature changes on the affected side. This can present challenges as it may prevent timely responses to potential harm or discomfort.
15. Increased dependence on others for daily activities and self-care.
The brain’s left hemisphere involves various functions like motor control, language processing, and planning. When this area is damaged, individuals may experience mobility, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving difficulties. This can significantly impact their ability to perform activities of daily living independently.
Tasks such as dressing, bathing, cooking, or managing medications may become challenging or impossible to complete without assistance. As a result, stroke survivors may rely more heavily on family members, caregivers, or healthcare professionals to meet their needs.
Treatment Available for a Left Brain Stroke
Several treatment options are available for a left brain stroke, with the goal of minimizing damage, promoting recovery, and preventing future strokes. The immediate approach typically involves medical interventions, such as administering clot-dissolving medications or performing emergency clot removal procedures, to restore blood flow to the affected Area of the brain.
Afterward, the team often implements a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. This plan may include:
- Physical therapy to improve motor skills, mobility, and strength
- Occupational therapy to regain independence in daily activities.
- Speech therapy addresses language and communication difficulties, while cognitive therapy improves memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities.
- Medications, such as blood thinners and anti-platelet drugs, may be prescribed to prevent further clotting and reduce the risk of recurrent strokes.
- Lifestyle modifications, including adopting a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and quitting smoking, are also crucial to reducing stroke risk.
- Functional Neurology: After completing the therapies above, functional neurology can offer more specific, targeted exercises to address any remaining symptoms.
- Emotional and psychological support through counseling or groups can aid in adjusting to the life changes and challenges brought about by a left brain stroke.
Conclusion
Strokes can have a dramatic effect on daily function and well-being. Recognizing and working through these issues is essential for creating personalized rehabilitation plans and support systems to help individuals regain their independence and improve their quality of life.
While it may seem daunting at first, there are plenty of resources to help people return to normal function. The keys to a full recovery are patience, persistence, the belief that it’s possible, and a healthy support system. Give yourself grace with setbacks, and realize they’re part of the process.
Lastly, vet your healthcare professionals and choose ones that help you feel motivated, assertive, and confident to take on challenges.
If you or a loved one is struggling with after effects of a stroke, click here to set up a call with one of the doctors at The Neural Connection.
Click here to read our 88+ 5-star Google reviews from people that have suffered a stroke.
Here’s an example from one of our post stroke patients:
“We saw Dr. Thompson Maesaka at The Neural Connection. My daughter, age 9, was 18 months post stroke and had been struggling with frequent headaches and dizziness among several other side effect such as irritability, brain fatigue, and anxiety just to name a few. We’ve worked with several doctors since her stroke who have not been able to help these lingering effects.
Dr. Maesaka worked closely with us and during that time we learned so much! Dr. Maesaka was so incredibly patient working with a 9 year old who doesn’t always stay focused. He did a fantastic job of teaching and explaining to us the “why” behind all of these ailments she continues to struggle with since her stroke. We learned so much about what brain injuries do to a person. No other doctor helped us in this way.
Since seeing Dr. Maesaka our daughter has not complained of headaches or dizziness to any degree of what she used to. It’s very rare now to hear her complain of any. She has also been able to complete her school days on a regular basis. Prior to seeing Dr. Maesaka she was still not back in school full time since her stroke. She would have to be picked up early because she just didn’t have the stamina to complete the full day. The at home therapy we went home with helps our daughter get through her days with so much more ease. So grateful to have found Dr. Maesaka!”
*Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Thus, patients are advised to consult their medical provider or primary care physician before trying any therapies at home
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