Strokes affect more than 795,000 people in the U.S., and 610,000 of these are first or new strokes. They can cause significant impairment to motor skills, language, cognition, and physical function. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “The long-term effects of stroke — which vary from person to person, depending on the stroke’s severity and the area of the brain affected — may include:
- cognitive symptoms like memory problems and trouble speaking;
- physical symptoms such as weakness, paralysis and difficulty swallowing;
- emotional symptoms like depression and impulsivity, and
- heavy fatigue and trouble sleeping.