What are the possible complications due to stroke?

Stroke is a serious condition, because this disease can cause damage to the brain, even permanently. Not only that, stroke can also cause various kinds of complications that are no less serious. Then, what are the complications that may occur due to having a stroke? Here's the explanation.

Possible complications due to stroke that need to be watched out for

There are several conditions you may experience after having a stroke. Part of it is due to damage that directly attacks the brain. Then, some others occur due to changes in the body's ability, especially in movement.

1. Edema of the brain

One of the complications of stroke that may occur is edema or fluid buildup that causes the brain to become swollen. Edema usually occurs 1-2 days after the onset of an acute ischemic stroke, and reaches a maximum point after 3-5 days.

Initially, approximately in the first 24 hours, edema in the brain is not a problem that is too worrying. Only 10-20% of total stroke cases have brain edema and require medical attention.

2. Pneumonia

Apart from causing problems in the brain, strokes can also cause problems in the respiratory system, for example pneumonia. This condition is a complication that may occur after you are unable to move a part of your body due to a stroke.

Usually, a stroke causes you to have difficulty swallowing the food or drink you consume. This has the potential to cause food or drink that goes into the mouth to "get lost". This means that instead of going into the esophagus, the food actually enters the throat or respiratory tract.

This condition is what causes stroke patients to experience pneumonia which then makes it difficult for you to breathe.

3. Urinary tract infection

Stroke patients are also very susceptible to urinary tract infections due to decreased immune system work, bladder dysfunction, and increased use of urinary catheters. In fact, fever and inflammation that occur in response to this infection can reduce the effectiveness of stroke recovery.

Usually, complications from stroke can be resolved by using prophylactic antibiotics, catheter infused with antiseptics, and improving quality of life in hopes of reducing unnecessary catheter use.

4. Seizures

Some patients may also have seizures after having had a stroke. Usually, these complications occur in the first days of recovery after stroke. However, not infrequently, seizures only appear two years later.

In fact, some patients may have repeated seizures and be diagnosed with epilepsy. In fact, there are differences in seizures after stroke and epilepsy, or will experience them at a later date.

Even so, you don't need to worry too much, because over time, the risk of having seizures after this stroke will also decrease.

5. Blood clots

When you are in the hospital for too long, it is not uncommon for you to experience blood clots, especially in areas of the body that are rarely moved. The more parts of the body that don't move for too long, the greater the risk of blood clots.

However, blood clots can also occur even though a patient who has just had a stroke has improved and is still able to move freely. Therefore, you still need to pay attention to the possibility of blood clots.

The reason is that blood clots in the body can move through the bloodstream to the blood vessels in the heart, which can potentially cause blockages. This condition can certainly cause heart problems that cause death.

6. Speech disorders

Stroke has the potential to cause you to lose control of the muscles in your mouth and throat. So, in addition to swallowing food, you may also experience speech problems.

In fact, you may have trouble understanding what other people say, so you can't read and write well. This one stroke complication is called aphasia.

7. Depression

Having a stroke has the potential to make the patient experience a decrease in several body functions. This can make you feel sad, useless, or lacking energy, which can lead to depression.

In fact, at the same time, you can also feel upset, angry, and various other emotions that you cannot control. This complication is actually harmless, but you still shouldn't ignore it.

Your doctor may advise you to attend counseling or take antidepressant drugs. Not only that, you can also be asked to join in support group which may help restore self-confidence.

8. Chronic headaches

Headaches are indeed one of the symptoms of a stroke that you may feel, but this condition can get worse if the stroke is not treated immediately. This is very likely to occur in patients who have had a hemorrhagic stroke or hemorrhage.

The reason is, bleeding in the brain can cause pain in the head. Even so, you should not use stroke drugs without consulting your doctor first if you want to deal with this one complication.

9. Paralysis

Stroke can also be the cause of paralysis or paraplegia, either in one part of the body, or all of it. Generally, this condition affects the face, arms and legs. To make sure that areas of your body are still strong, try doing a simple test.

For example, if you want to test your arm strength, raise your hands up. Make sure that they are still pointing upwards before you control the muscles in them to lower the hands.

However, if one hand falls out of your control, this could be a sign of paralysis from a stroke. You can also try smiling and making sure that the sides of your lips are curved upwards.

10. Shoulder pain

According to Collins University Health Care, you can also feel pain in the shoulder area as a complication that occurs due to stroke. The reason is, when you experience this condition, you feel that there is nothing supporting the arm area because of muscle weakness or paralysis.

Usually, this condition occurs when the affected hand becomes hanging, causing the arm area to pull the muscles in the shoulder area.

11. Visual disturbances

Stroke can also cause sudden vision problems. You may experience blurry or shadowed eyesight. In more serious conditions, you may lose sight of the eye partially on one side of the eye, or completely.

12. Decubitus ulcers

Condition which is also known as bedsore this is another complication that stroke sufferers may experience. Bedsore is a skin problem or injury that occurs in the subcutaneous tissue due to decreased ability to move or move places.

Generally, stroke patients who experience paralysis spend too long lying down because they experience paralysis that causes them to develop this condition.

13. Tense the muscles

Another complication you may experience after a stroke is muscle tension or pain (myalgia). Usually, you will feel pain or tension in the muscles in the arm or leg area right after a stroke or months later. However, this condition can be overcome with regular physical exercise that you can do with the help of a physical therapist.