The effects of stroke are highly individual. However, there are the symptoms that are very spread after the stroke. Muscle weakness caused by a stroke can cause pain by putting extra stress on different parts of the body.
Facial movement is one of the functions of the human nonverbal communication system. It serves not only to maintain the facial expression, but also plays an important role in speech, social communication, eating, singing, and eye protection. Facial muscles can alter the facial surface in various ways to execute their functions. In addition to opening and closing the eyes and mouth they also have a reporting function. Highly differentiated and complex facial musculature can express a large number of sensations and can reflect the state of mind and mood of an individual. Paresis of the facial nerve after stroke causes functional and aesthetic defects, manifested by facial asymmetry with muscle impairment of the lower half of the face, drooping of the corner of the mouth, dribbling from the corner of the mouth, asymmetrical smile and a speech explicitness disorder with atonia of the lips, tongue and throat (Kalita, Amber).
Another common communication problem, called dysarthria, is difficulty speaking caused by weakness or paralysis in the muscles of the face and mouth. Facial paresis is one of the most common disorders in patients after stroke, and is reflected by changes in facial movement. Stroke is defined as rapidly developing focal or global symptoms of brain function disorder that last for more than 24 hours or might result in the death of the patient, without an apparent cause other than vascular origin (Kalita).
References
Kalita Z. Acute stroke. Prague: Maxdorf; 2006.
Amber Z, editor. [Neurology.] Prague: Charles University; 1999 (in …