According to the statistics collated by the World Stroke Organisation, stroke has already reached epidemic proportions.
Globally 1 in 4 adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime, and over 110 million people in the world have experienced stroke.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is brain damage caused by something that blocks the blood supply to the brain, such as a blood clot. This is called an ischemic stroke.
Strokes can also occur when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and causes pressure on the brain. This is called a Hemorrhagic stroke.
Although stroke symptoms can appear suddenly, there is still time to act fast. Some people report symptoms several days before a stroke has been reported in some people.
As many as 43% of people that experienced a stroke report symptoms up to a week before their stroke. These symptoms include headaches, numbness and/or tingling.
Five Early Warning Signs for Strokes
Seek immediate help if any of these symptoms occur:
- Numbness or weakness on one side of your body
- Confusion (such as difficulty with speaking or understanding others speak)
- Impaired vision
- Dizziness and loss of balance, leading to trouble walking
- Extreme headache with unknown cause
Actions to be Taken for Stroke Recovery
Recovery from a stroke will look different for everyone. Depending on the severity of the stroke, recovery may take a few weeks or even a few years. Following are four tips to keep in mind while going through stroke recovery.
1. Start Rehabilitation as Soon as Possible
It’s crucial to begin rehabilitation during the acute phase, which is generally three days from when you suffer from a stroke.
Starting rehabilitation as soon as possible will enable your body and mind to heal fully. Repetition is essential to the rehabilitation process and will bring you closer to recovery.
Through a process called neuroplasticity, your brain has the capacity to evolve and adapt through repetition.
Even if you are getting noticeably better, it’s also important to continue rehabilitation exercises to maintain the progress you are gaining.
2. Eat Well, Stay Active and Sleep When You Need It
Make sure to regularly exercise and eat healthy daily to help with your recovery.
Eating more vegetables, nuts, and whole grains is proven to enable you to regain the energy you need during your recovery. A diet supplemented with vitamins is also optimal during your recovery.
Exercising for around 30 minutes each day with moderate intensity will allow you to re-strengthen your body.
It is also imperative to get adequate amounts of sleep when you need it. Sleep is proven to help improve movement recovery after a stroke.
3. Find Support, and Don’t Get Discouraged
Make sure to build a strong support system at home and in your community. It will be easier to go through recovery while having the opportunity to talk to other stroke survivors and share resources with these groups.
Ask your health care professional if these support groups are available near you and take advantage of them.
Most importantly, don’t get discouraged. Your level of progress may start to plateau at around the three-month mark of your rehabilitation.
However, it is important not to forget that this is common for many patients. It is essential not to get discouraged by this, as your brain will still get stronger as you continue rehabilitation.
The more work you put in towards your recovery, the stronger your brain will get.
4. Find tools that will help you recover quickly
Since stroke is a common affliction that strikes so many, it’s no wonder that there are many tools built to help people suffering from stroke regain strength and mobility.
Speed Motion and Cognitive Recovery with Stroke Rehabilitation Devices
Rehabtronics offers three devices that are proven to help people recover movement of the upper limb after central or peripheral nervous system injury or disease.
Hundreds of clinics around the world use our ReJoyce, ReTouch and ReGrasp products in their rehabilitation programs.
ReJoyce Rehabilitation Workstation is designed to speed recovery of hand and arm impairment with practical games that engage patients in practising activities of daily living (ADLs).
It helps therapists perform quantitative patient assessments. With an at-home system, patients are also able to monitor their own progress.
To learn more about this gamified stroke recovery solution, visit our page at bmec.asia/my/rehabtronics
More Information
- Rehabtronics | Early Warning Signs of Stroke You Need to Know to Act Fast | 4 Things to Know About Successful Stroke Recovery
- World Stroke Organisation | Learn about Stroke
- 7 Ways to Maximize Your Recovery After a Stroke. (2022, May 6). Health Hive.
- 25 Stroke Recovery Tips for Healing, Habits, and Happiness. (2021, February 8). FlintRehab.
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