Published on: 4/28/2025
One sided body weakness can be caused by a stroke, very low potassium levels (hypokalemia), or rare brain infections like encephalitis.
When you notice weakness only on the left side of your body, it might be because of a problem in the brain or body chemistry that affects movement. One common cause is a stroke. A stroke happens when the blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked or reduced, which can affect the areas that control that one side of the body, causing weakness. Another possibility is having very low levels of potassium in your body, a condition called hypokalemia. Potassium is important for muscle and nerve function, and when its levels drop too low, muscles might not work well, leading to weakness, although it tends to be generalized weakness. Lastly, although it is rare, certain brain infections like amoebic encephalitis can cause inflammation in the brain and lead to weakness on one side of the body. All of these reasons show that when you feel weakness only on one side, it is important to talk with a healthcare provider. They can perform tests and exams to understand what is happening and choose the right treatment plan.
(References)
Schneider R, Gautier JC. Leg weakness due to stroke. Site of lesions, weakness patterns and causes. Brain. 1994 Apr;117 ( Pt 2):347-54. doi: 10.1093/brain/117.2.347. PMID: 8186960.
Chiang WF, Yeh FC, Lin SH. Unilateral paralysis associated with profound hypokalemia. Am J Emerg Med. 2012 Nov;30(9):2100.e5-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2012.02.007. Epub 2012 Mar 29. PMID: 22463964.
Pan D, Bridges LR, du Parcq J, Mahadeva U, Roy S, Ali IKM, Cosgrove CA, Chiodini PL, Zhang L. A rare cause of left-sided weakness in an elderly woman: amoebic encephalitis. Lancet. 2020 Jul 11;396(10244):e1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31365-9. PMID: 32653069.
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