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What to Do After a Stroke
Strokes occur when a blood vessel that
carries oxygen and nutrients to the
brain is blocked by a blood clot or
cholesterol plaque, or if it bursts. They may
cause physical and mental impairments,
such as near paralysis on one side of the
body, difficulty understanding or speaking,
slow thinking, and fatigue
The good news? You can recoup some
or all of your previous functionality. Here
are some recommendations from Stephen
J. Martino, M.D., Stroke Program director
at Ocean Medical Center, and Noah
R. Gilson, M.D., medical director of the
Stroke Program at Riverview Medical
Center, to speed your recovery and minimize
the odds for a second stroke.
Know Your Numbers, Take Your Meds
High blood pressure, which is generally
accepted as greater than 140/90, is a leading
cause of stroke. "To prevent a stroke, the aim is to maintain tight control of a
person's blood pressure to reduce the risk
for any cerebral event," says Dr. Martino.
"You can bring your blood pressure down
with lifestyle measures such as exercise,
weight loss, restricting sodium intake, and
smoking cessation."
If you have diabetes, keep a log of your
blood sugar. Uncontrolled blood sugar also is
a risk factor for recurrent stroke. If your blood
sugar isn't well-regulated, ask your doctor if
you should check it more often.
Based on the data you provide, your
doctor may put you on new medication or
adjust the medication you're already taking.
Follow the medication instructions exactly
and don't stop taking it unless your doctor
tells you to do so, even if you feel fine.
"But if you feel light-headed, dizzy,
confused, weak, or achy — possible side
effects of diabetes, blood pressure, or cholesterol-
lowering medication — tell your
doctor immediately," says Dr. Martino.
Keep Up the Good Work
As another component of your recovery,
you may need rehabilitation to recover the
use of an affected arm or leg. Or you may
need it to assist with speech, memory, or
problem-solving recovery.
"But although inpatient and outpatient
rehab may be part of your treatment
plan for up to six months post-stroke,
your progress doesn't end there," says Dr.
Gilson. "You can continue to improve long
after that if you practice the tasks you want
to improve." Some of that practice may
need to be supervised by a physical therapist
or a physician, and certainly family
members can help. But much of it has to
be done on your own.
One strategy is to repeat again and
again what you want to do, but change the
circumstances: Do it faster or with greater
precision, use objects of different sizes and
weights, and perform the task under different
circumstances and in different places.
It all depends on how much strength
and sensation you have at any given time.
You may need to practice the tasks you
want to improve several hours each day, if
necessary. Encourage family members to
let you do as much as possible yourself,
even if you're struggling.
"For the best results, decide what you
want to work on and get some help in setting
up the best conditions for doing just a
few of the activities several hours a day,"
says Dr. Gilson. "Aim for small advances
day by day."
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