A stroke, or brain attack, happens when an artery carrying blood to part of the brain breaks or becomes clogged. When this happens, the part of the brain that needed the artery for nourishment can die. Sometimes brain cells that are near the injured cells also begin to swell and stop working. Strokes affect people in different ways, depending on the kind of stroke and the part of the brain involved. Weakness on one side of the face or body is common. A stroke can also damage the senses. It can alter the ability to speak and understand speech. It can affect behavior, thoughts and memory.

The mental problems caused by a stroke can be very difficult for patients and their families. Patients may not understand familiar objects the way they did before. If vision is affected, objects may look closer or farther away than they really are. This can cause spills at the table or collisions when walking. People may have trouble understanding what others say, even though hearing is not usually affected by stroke. When a stroke weakens the right side of the body, it can sometimes affect the part of the brain that deals with speech. In this situation, stroke patients may not be able to say or write what they are thinking.

Sometimes people who have had a stroke become depressed. They think they have lost something with the stroke. They may neglect part of their body because they can no longer see it or sense that it is there. A stroke can alter the ability to think clearly. Stroke patients may not know how to start a task. They may get confused. They may even forget how to do something they have often done in the past.

Persons who have had a stroke need support as they recover. Some of the problems caused by a stroke may be due to swelling of brain cells. As the brain comes back to normal after the stroke, these cells can recover. When the cells recover, they begin to work again and the person's mental function improves. Other times the damage is permanent. It is important for the person with a stroke and their family to understand that many mental problems even personality changes, can be due to the stroke. With understanding and rehabilitation treatment, stroke patients can enjoy their lives and their families.

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