Strokes affect nearly 7 million people yearly around the world1. A stroke occurs from blood clots or ruptures in vessels. As a result, blood delivery to tissues is blocked, which leads to tissue death2. The long-term effects of having a stroke are dependent on the area of the brain where it occurred. Common effects include paralysis, language/speech issues, vision issues, memory loss, and motor control issues3. Nerve function is often impacted from strokes, since nerves coordinate body function/feeling to the brain. In the case of motor control problems, those affected may experience weakness and a lack of control or coordination over the affected limb4. This could make everyday tasks difficult to manage or impossible, such as holding dishes, writing, or putting on clothing.
References:
[1] Ovbiagele, B., & Nguyen-Huynh, M. N. (2011). Stroke epidemiology: advancing our understanding of disease mechanism and therapy. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 8(3), 319–329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-011-0053-1
[2] American Stroke Association. (n.d.). About Stroke. About Stroke | American Stroke Association. https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke#:~:text=Stroke%20is%20a%20disease%20that,or%20bursts%20(or%20ruptures).
[3] American Stroke Association. (n.d.). Effects of stroke. Effects of Stroke | American Stroke Association. https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke
[4] American Stroke Association. (2023). Improving Fine Motor Skills. Improving Fine Motor Skills | American Stroke Association. https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke/physical-effects-of-stroke/physical-impact/improving-fine-motor-skills