Dysphagia
Swallowing disorders occur relatively frequently as a result of hemiplegia caused by a stroke. Those affected have problems swallowing food and keeping liquids in their mouth. If the disorder is severe, inadequate therapy can result in malnutrition and dehydration.
However, it is more dangerous if swallowing disorders are caused by nerve cell death in the brain stem. Since the coordination of the act of swallowing occurs in this area of the brain, serious complications can occur if the damage is caused. These include, for example, the missing closure of the airway by the epiglottis during the act of swallowing. In addition to severe coughing attacks and the risk of pneumonia, this can also lead to suffocation attacks, which can be life-threatening. Since this danger is known, all patients with a stroke undergo a detailed examination of their ability to swallow in order to prevent possible complications at an early stage.
Visual impairment
It is not uncommon for patients to develop vision problems as a result of a stroke. The type and extent of the visual disturbance depends largely on the location of the brain damage. For example, the optic nerve itself can be damaged in its course, but also the area of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing the information for vision.
The most frequent consequence in this context is a narrowing of the visual field. This means that when you look at something, you see darkening at the periphery. This creates the impression of tunnel vision.
However, small areas of the visual field or a complete loss of vision on one side can also occur. Furthermore, double images can occur, which indicates damage to the brain stem. If the damage is located in the visual cortex (the area of the brain responsible for vision), the loss of vision is often complicated. It is possible that the perception of visual stimuli is completely unaffected, but that this information can no longer be processed.
