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Right Brain Strokes Cause Different Problems
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Richard C Senelick, MD posted:
You may have read about people being more right or left brain dominant. Most of the time we are referring to their artistic or analytical abilities. But, whether a stroke affects the left or right side of the brain does make a big difference in the type of symptoms that occur. Strokes involving the right side of the brain cause many problems that most people and doctors do not routinely think about.
The right hemisphere is more in control of our visual organization, perception, and attention. It adds meaning and substance to what we see.

The right brain also is responsible for nonverbal communication, for the slang, inflection, style, and gestures that go along with our conversations with others.

Furthermore, our right hemisphere also is involved in our ability to perceive space, to understand where we are, what we are looking at, what we are doing, and why various objects are placed where they are.

All these functions are affected when a stroke occurs in the right hemisphere of the brain. Let's now go over these "right blights," these most common right-hemisphere stroke symptoms.

A List of Right-Hemisphere Stroke Symptoms
  • Numbness or weakness on the left side of the body
  • Difficulty in performing daily tasks
  • Perception difficulties
  • Neglect of left side
  • Visual memory impairment
  • Excessive talking
  • Short attention span
  • Poor judgment
  • Time disorientation
  • Loss of left visual field
  • Impaired abstract thinking
  • Extreme emotional highs and lows
  • Lethargy
  • Impulsiveness

If you are having problems in any of these areas, contact your doctor and ask for help. We tend to focus our attention on paralyzed arms and legs, frequently forgetting about these other important areas.

Good Luck
After your stroke you may be experiencing a new normal, but remember what George Eliot said- It is never too late to be what you might have been. You still can achieve new goals.
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Right Brain Strokes Cause Different ProblemsYou may have read about people being more right or left brain dominant. Most of the time we are referring to their artistic or analytical abilities. But, whether a stroke affects the left or right side of the brain does make a big difference in the type of symptoms that occur. Strokes involving the right side of the brain cause many problems that most people and doctors do not routinely think about. <br />The right hemisphere is more in control of our visual organization, perception, and attention. It adds meaning and substance to what we see.<br /><br />The right brain also is responsible for nonverbal communication, for the slang, inflection, style, and gestures that go along with our conversations with others.<br /><br />Furthermore, our right hemisphere also is involved in our ability to perceive space, to understand where we are, what we are looking at, what we are doing, and why various objects are placed where they are.<br /><br />All these functions are affected when a stroke occurs in the right hemisphere of the brain. Let's now go over these "right blights," these most common right-hemisphere stroke symptoms.<br /> <br /><b>A List of Right-Hemisphere Stroke Symptoms</b><br /><ul><li>Numbness or weakness on the left side of the body</li><li>Difficulty in performing daily tasks</li><li>Perception difficulties</li><li>Neglect of left side</li><li>Visual memory impairment</li><li>Excessive talking</li><li>Short attention span</li><li>Poor judgment</li><li>Time disorientation</li><li>Loss of left visual field</li><li>Impaired abstract thinking</li><li>Extreme emotional highs and lows</li><li>Lethargy</li><li>Impulsiveness</li></ul><br />If you are having problems in any of these areas, contact your doctor and ask for help. We tend to focus our attention on paralyzed arms and legs, frequently forgetting about these other important areas.<br /><br />Good Luck
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RANDIE97 responded:
Dear Dr. Senelick,
I have been reading alot of your posts lately and since 2005 I have had 9 mini strokes (8 to 10 lesions on rt side of brain) and TIA's. I also found out since then that I have a PFO? (hole in my heart, which i know is cardiology dept) but what i found out yesterday from my neurologist is that I was born with on my front right side of brain is Atrophied? can this atrophied of the brain be genetic and possibly the causes of my mini strokes? Any indepth you can give me I would greatly appreciate it.
Report This| Share this:Right Brain Strokes Cause Different ProblemsDear Dr. Senelick,<br /> I have been reading alot of your posts lately and since 2005 I have had 9 mini strokes (8 to 10 lesions on rt side of brain) and TIA's. I also found out since then that I have a PFO? (hole in my heart, which i know is cardiology dept) but what i found out yesterday from my neurologist is that I was born with on my front right side of brain is Atrophied? can this atrophied of the brain be genetic and possibly the causes of my mini strokes? Any indepth you can give me I would greatly appreciate it.
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Bettylo responded:
please write something about patients that had left brain strokes.
Report This| Share this:Right Brain Strokes Cause Different Problemsplease write something about patients that had left brain strokes.
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suppt replied to Bettylo's response:
Agreed. Somebdoy, anybody!
Report This| Share this:Right Brain Strokes Cause Different ProblemsAgreed. Somebdoy, anybody!
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Richard C. Senelick M.D. is a physician specializing in both neurology and the subspecialty of neurorehabilitation. He did his undergraduate and medic...More

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