Post-Stroke Sequelae Symptoms

Post-stroke sequelae are functional impairments following acute stroke treatment, most common in middle-aged and elderly individuals, though incidence among younger populations has been rising in recent years. This condition is prevalent worldwide, especially in developed countries such as the United States, Germany, and Japan, where rehabilitation has become a standard part of care.

In Southeast Asia, countries such as China, Thailand, and Vietnam have seen a yearly increase in stroke incidence, with a corresponding rise in sequelae cases, placing a heavy burden on public health systems. Due to a lack of systematic rehabilitation, patients often retain multiple functional impairments, significantly limiting quality of life.

Detailed Symptoms of Post-Stroke Sequelae

1. Motor impairment

The most common sequela of stroke is hemiplegia or hemiparesis. Patients often experience reduced muscle strength on one side of the body, making independent standing or walking difficult. Severity depends on the brain lesion site, and severe cases may require long-term reliance on assistive devices or caregivers.

2. Language and communication disorders

Damage to the language center may cause aphasia, including difficulty speaking, inappropriate word use, or inability to understand speech. Some patients may also experience dysarthria, with slurred speech, severely impacting communication and social interaction.

3. Swallowing disorders

Patients with impaired swallowing function are prone to choking and difficulty swallowing, significantly slowing eating and sometimes causing aspiration pneumonia. This symptom affects nutrition intake and poses major obstacles to recovery.

4. Cognitive impairment

Some post-stroke patients show memory decline, poor concentration, and reduced calculation ability. Others may experience spatial disorientation, difficulty handling daily tasks, or challenges with simple logical reasoning.

5. Emotional and behavioral abnormalities

Some stroke survivors experience mood swings, irritability, or depressive tendencies, and may develop anxiety or apathy. Without timely intervention, this can progress to post-stroke depression, affecting overall rehabilitation outcomes.

6. Visual impairment

Damage to visual pathways or centers in the brain may cause visual field defects, double vision, or recognition difficulties, affecting activities such as reading and walking, and increasing fall risks.

7. Bladder and bowel dysfunction

Neurological control issues may lead to urinary frequency, incontinence, or constipation, reducing quality of life and increasing caregiver burden, often requiring rehabilitation training or medication.

8. Pain and abnormal sensations

Some patients experience numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or post-stroke neuropathic pain, often localized to the shoulder, fingers, or thighs, reducing motivation for rehabilitation.

Conclusion

Post-stroke sequelae present complex symptoms that affect not only the body but also impose significant psychological and social burdens. Experts at United Life International Medical Center emphasize that early recognition and targeted treatment are key to improving quality of life and prognosis. Emerging therapies such as stem cell treatment provide additional pathways for rehabilitation and symptom improvement.