Strokesaurus

Word Definition

Debilitation

Weakened condition.


For similar information see How stroke can affect you

Debilitation is when you are weak.


See How stroke can affect you

Dehydrate

To lose water or body fluids.


For similar information see How stroke can affect you

Dehydrated is when you lose too much water from your body.

It’s like when you don’t drink enough water. 


See How stroke can affect you

Dementia

Permanently impaired cognition, which includes things such as memory, thinking, language and judgment, which affects behaviour.


For similar information see Brain and Cognitive

Dementia is when your mind is damaged. 

It can change the way you act. 

It includes changes to things like: 

  • Your memory
  • How you think
  • Talking and listening
  • How you make decisions


See Brain and Cognitive

Diabetes

A condition that causes blood sugar to rise to dangerous levels, that if left untreated, can lead to stroke.


For similar information see Food and nutrition

Diabetes is when your blood sugar rises. 

If your blood sugar gets too high for too long, you might have a stroke. 


See Food and nutrition

Diet

Although the term diet is commonly used to describe a weight-loss plan, the primary definition is what a person eats and drinks. Diet plays a major factor in lowering stroke risk.


For similar information see Food and nutrition

Diet means what you eat. 

Eating a good diet can help stop strokes. 


See Food and nutrition

Diplopia

Double vision. This can happen if the nerves that make the eyes move are damaged, and the eyes cannot be moved to the same position.

 

For similar information see Sensory changes

Diplopia is when you see double. 

You see two images of a single thing.

It can happen when nerves to your eyes are damaged.

You cannot move your eyes to the same position.

 

See Sensory changes

Duplex Doppler Ultrasound

A diagnostic imaging technique in which an image of an artery can be formed by bouncing sound waves off the moving blood in the artery and measuring the frequency changes of the echoes.


For similar information see Procedures

Duplex doppler ultrasound is a type of medical test. 

Doctors can take a picture of an artery. 

They use it to see problems in your body and brain. 


See Procedures

Dysarthria

Dysarthria is caused by weakness in the muscles used for speaking. Speech becomes slurred or a person is unable to say things clearly.


For similar information see Speech and language

Dysarthria is when you can’t talk clearly. 

It happens when muscles in your mouth become weak. 

This makes you hard to understand. 


See Speech and language

Dysesthesia

A condition caused by lesions of the nervous system that impairs the sense of touch. Even light touch can feel unpleasant or painful. It can also include spontaneous or exaggerated feelings of burning, wetness, itching, electric shock, and pins and needles.

Dysesthesia is when your sense of touch is damaged. 


Even a light touch can be painful. 

You might also feel things like: 

  • burning
  • wetness
  • itching
  • electric shock
  • pins and needles.
Dysesthesia is caused by damage to your nerves.

Dyslexia

Impaired ability to read.


For similar information see Speech and language

Dyslexia is when you have trouble reading.


See Speech and language

Dysphagia

Pain or difficulty swallowing.

 

For similar information see Swallowing

Dysphagia is when you have pain or difficulty swallowing.

It is also called aphagia.

 

See Swallowing

Dysphasia

Also known as aphasia. Impaired ability to talk, read, write or understand others when they speak.


For similar information see Speech and language

Dysphasia is when you have trouble with language. 

It includes: 

  • Talking 
  • Reading 
  • Writing
  • Understanding others

Sometimes is it called aphasia


See Speech and language

Dysphonia

Weakness or paralysis in the muscles in and around the vocal cords. Your voice might sound like a whisper, or it might sound hoarse or rough. If you cannot make any sound at all, it is called aphonia.

 

For similar information see Speech and language

Dysphonia is a problem with the muscles in around your vocal cords.

The vocal cord muscles are weak or paralysed.

Your voice might sound like a whisper.

Your voice might sound horse or rough.

If you cannot make any sound at all, it is called aphonia

 

See Speech and language

Dysport

See Botulinum toxin


For similar information see Procedures

See Botulinum toxin


See Procedures

Dyspraxia

Also known as apraxia. Impaired ability to do a body movement because the brain has difficulty planning that movement.


For similar information see Brain and Cognitive

Dyspraxia is when you have trouble moving your body. 

It happens when parts of your body don’t do what you want them to. 

It is also called apraxia. 


See Brain and Cognitive

Dystonia

Dystonia causes muscles in the body to contract or spasm involuntarily. This can result in abnormal postures, pain and difficulty using the affected part of the body.

Dystonia is when the muscles in a part of your body are very tight.

Your muscles might also spasm. 

It can mean your posture is not normal.

It can also cause pain.

You might have trouble using that part of your body.