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This page explains why you may have problems with swallowing after a stroke and how they can be diagnosed and treated.

Your recovery from a stroke isn't limited to the time you spend in hospital. When you're ready to leave hospital, your stroke team will work with you to agree and arrange the support you need to continue your recovery at home.

An ischaemic stroke happens when a blood clot, or other blockage, cuts off the blood supply to your brain. This is the most common type of stroke.

After a stroke, good oral hygiene can help you to stay healthy by reducing the germs in your mouth.

After a stroke, up to a third of people find that their sense of taste or smell changes.

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.

A stroke often causes problems with bladder and bowel control. These usually improve in the early weeks after the stroke, but around a third of stroke survivors may have longer term difficulties.Continence problems after a stroke can be caused by damage to areas of the brain due to stroke, as well as side effects of medication, constipation, and not being able to ask for the toilet due to communication problems. Treatments can include bladder and bowel training, pelvic floor exercises, eating more fibre, and medication including laxatives. This guide also looks at practical solutions to many day-to-day problems to help you live well with incontinence.