Effects of Brainstem Stroke

The structure of human brain is quite complicated. It has four different parts, namely the left hemisphere, right hemisphere, cerebellum and brainstem. Each of these parts perform a different set of functions. When there is a stroke or brain attack, then the blood supply to a particular part of the brain is interrupted all of a sudden. These kinds of interruptions occur because of blood clots or bleeding in the brain. The blood is the carrier of lifesaving oxygen to the cells of this vital organ. It also transports the unwanted waste materials from this area. As the blood supply to the brain gets affected, some of its cells get damaged and eventually they die. Brainstem happens to be the lowest part of the brain and it controls the autonomic or involuntary functions of the body. The effects of brainstem stroke largely depend on the extent of damage caused to its cells.

Impact of a Brainstem Stroke on the Human Body
The key functions that are controlled by the brainstem include breathing, blinking, blood pressure, swallowing, etc. Therefore, the major effects of a brainstem stroke can be observed in the following functions of the body.

Eye Movements: After a brainstem stroke, the eyeballs of the patient may start rolling uncontrollably because the voluntary eye movement is under the control of brainstem. This is known as nystagmus. In this condition, the eye does not receive sufficient input from the brain due to which the eyeballs keep shifting back and forth. So, the patient cannot keep focus on any one particular object. This effect can be observed either in one eye or both the eyes.

Breathing Problem: If the part of the brainstem that regulates the rate of breathing is badly damaged, then the rate of breathing of the patient has to be controlled mechanically. In other cases where the injury is less severe, the rate of breathing becomes slow and the patient cannot take deep breaths. Such patients tend to develop sleep apnea later on and their breathing stops abruptly for some time while sleeping.

Trouble in Swallowing Foods: The vital coordination between chewing and swallowing is maintained by the brainstem. If these two activities are not coordinated properly because of stroke, then it results in choking. Some of these patients can swallow semisolid foods. Others may require a feeding tube to supply them the required amount of nutrition.

Difficulty in Speaking: Another damaging effect is loss of coordination between the muscles of the mouth and tongue. As a result, the patient finds it difficult to make sounds while speaking. Moreover, breathing difficulty hinders proper articulation of the speech. So, the patient cannot utter the words distinctly. A serious brainstem stroke can even lead to permanent speech impairment.

Paralysis: Even if the stroke originates in the brainstem, it may have an impact on the functioning of the brain's hemispheres as well. This is because, the nerve impulses created in these parts of the brain have to pass through the brainstem to reach various parts of the body like arms and legs. Lack of transmission of signals leads to partial or complete paralysis of the body. In case of partial paralysis, one can move only one side of the body. On the other hand, patients with complete paralysis cannot move their body at all even though they are fully conscious.

The chances of recovery from these effects are different for every individual. If the brain cells suffered temporary damage and the patient received timely treatment, then the damaging effects of the stroke can be minimized and the patient can lead a productive life may be with some minor disabilities. In serious cases, patients have to continue with anticlotting and anticoagulating medicines that prevent formation of blood clots. They have to go for a regular check up of blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. Some of them have to undergo surgery to open up the narrow artery. These treatments are accompanied by a number of therapies like physical therapy speech therapy and swallowing therapy to counter the effects of brain stroke.

You can see from the above paragraphs that the effects of the stroke are grave and hence, one needs to promptly consult a doctor before his/her health condition worsens further.