A stroke can sometimes cause changes to your taste and smell. Things can taste different or taste bad (dysgeusia) or you may not taste flavours (hypogeusia or ageusia). Some people lose the sense of smell (anosmia) or become more sensitive to smells (hyperosmia). These problems often improve over time, and our guide gives some practical tips about oral hygiene and enjoying your food.
Resource type: Information leaflet
Publication type: Stroke information
This guide has information about some of the rare effects of stroke, including hallucinations, changes to your sense of smell, and locked-in syndrome.
A stroke in the brain stem can cause locked-in syndrome, where the person is conscious but unable to move apart from their eyes. A stroke may also cause hallucinations and delusions.
Migraines have not been shown to cause stroke, but if you have migraine with aura you have a very slightly higher risk of stroke. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and stroke.
Some people can experience post-stroke seizures. A small number of people go on to develop epilepsy, which is a tendency to have repeated seizures. Find out about the different types of seizures and how epilepsy is diagnosed and treated.
We have put together this information on stroke and coronavirus (COVID-19) in partnership with NHS England. It is for all stroke survivors in the UK.