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Right Brain Stroke

Overview

Your brain is divided into left and right halves, called "hemispheres." They specialize in different things. Because of this, a stroke on the right side of your brain can be very different from a stroke on the brain's left side. Let's look at some symptoms of a right brain stroke.

Left-side paralysis

Many people experience paralysis after stroke. One side of your face may droop, or you may have weakness in an arm or leg. But did you know that the hemispheres of the brain actually control movement on the opposite side of the body? So when a right brain stroke causes paralysis, the paralysis is on the body's left side.

Spatial skills

For most people, the right side of the brain handles nonverbal, spatial skills. So a right brain stroke can cause you to misjudge the distance, size, speed and position of objects. This makes tasks such as picking up objects, fastening buttons or tying shoes hard to do. You may even have trouble noticing when something is upside down.

Other issues

A right brain stroke can affect your brain in other ways, too. You may find that you tend to ignore or forget people and things on the left side of your body. We call this "left side neglect." You may have short-term memory problems. And some people experience a change in behavior. You may become more impulsive, and you may forget that you have some limitations.

Conclusion

No matter which side of your brain is affected, your doctor will create a care plan that is right for you. Recovering from stroke is hard, and it can take a long time. But If you follow the advice of your care team, you can make improvements and get back to the life you enjoy.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.