Best Ways to Help Recover from a Stroke

Wed, Aug 18, 2021 7:40 PM Medicare

If you or a loved one has had a stroke, you are aware that there can be a slew of unanticipated side effects during and after recovery. While some of these side effects are temporary, many of them might lead to long-term disability. During the stroke recovery process, you or a loved one will concentrate on regaining as much function as possible while learning to adapt to any long-term repercussions. It's all about adjusting to a new normal while maintaining as much independence as possible.

For many people, rehabilitation entails taking an active role. This may entail adjusting to new circumstances as well as seeking out additional emotional, social, and physical resources. Let's look at some things you can do to assist your stroke recovery go as smoothly as possible.

 

Stroke Symptoms and Side Effects

 

Let's take a look at some of the short and long-term repercussions of a stroke before we get into stroke recovery. When a person has a stroke, they may face physical, mental, and cognitive consequences.

 

Cognitive Side Effects

• Memory Loss

• Vascular Dementia

Mental Side Effects

• Depression

• Personality Changes

• Pseudobulbar Affect

Physical Side Effects

• Incontinence

• Seizures

• Trouble Sleeping

• Spasticity

• Dysphasia

• Vision Impairment

• Hemipharius

• Fatigue

 

To assist aging loved one with their recovery, think about all three of these areas and how they affect your loved one.

 

Tips for Recovering after a Stroke

 

 

• Lower Your Stroke Risk

 

Those who have had a stroke are at significant risk of having another one. Analyze your risk factors and devise a strategy for lowering your stroke risk to the lowest level achievable. Here's a list of both controlled and uncontrollable risk factors to think about.

 

Controllable Risk Factors to Address

• Circulation Problems

• Tobacco Use

• Alcohol Use

• Physical Inactivity

• Obesity

• High Blood Pressure

• Atrial Fibrillation

• High Cholesterol

• Atherosclerosis

Uncontrollable Risk Factors

Race

• Family History

• A previous stroke

• Age

• Gender

 

 

• Continue with the Exercises

 

If you or a loved one has had a stroke, you may have seen a physical therapist or other healthcare expert and been given exercises to help with recovery. These exercises are critical for recovery, particularly if many of the stroke's symptoms were physical.

Stroke patients frequently have impaired muscles on one side of their bodies. Exercises not only strengthen weakened muscles but also help retrain the brain and teach it new movement patterns so that people can accomplish daily chores independently or with minimum assistance.

Your workout regimen is tailored to you and your stroke symptoms. The more you do the workouts as directed, the greater the results will be.

 

Also Read The Importance of Walking for Seniors

 

 

 

• Take Care of your Mental Health

 

Following a stroke, a person may experience depression. The rehabilitation process can be hampered by depression. It can make your loved one feel discouraged, causing them to abandon their goals, and even make the decision to stop working toward better results.

Following a stroke, some seniors may develop PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). While this illness is frequently linked with war veterans, it can affect anybody who has been through a traumatic incident, such as a stroke. PTSD can induce anxiety, depression, guilt, and other symptoms, and it can also be a roadblock to rehabilitation.

Stroke survivors can seek support from mental health specialists for these symptoms and to improve their mental health. Therapy, medicine, or a mix of the two are frequently used to achieve this. However, it may also entail altering your food, increasing your physical activity, and making other lifestyle adjustments.

 

• Maintain a Positive Attitude

 

If you don't notice much progress in your stroke rehabilitation, it's natural to get frustrated. It is, nonetheless, critical to have a good attitude. Concentrate on the minor victories. You might not have been able to put on a sock two weeks ago, but now you can! Even if you aren't yet walking independently, that is still a significant accomplishment.

 

Also Read:Healthy Living Habits to Prevent Stroke for Seniors

 

Within the first 3 to 6 months following a stroke, you may see more outcomes. Because you can see changes all the time, this period of time can be incredibly inspiring. However, you may not notice as much progress beyond that time, which is known as the stroke recovery plateau. However, you should continue to work toward your objectives because full recovery is achievable.

To keep motivated, you might wish to join a support group with other stroke survivors. Perhaps you might devise a reward system to motivate you to keep going. Alternatively, surround oneself with supportive friends and family.

 

• Establish Attainable Objectives

 

Establish realistic healing goals with your loved one. Consider the many forms of side effects and develop goals that are both meaningful and achievable. These could range from the ability to do minor activities to long-term objectives. Try not to set goals that are too difficult to achieve. While objectives should be something to strive towards, they need not be impossibly difficult to achieve.

Your loved one could, for example, acquire vascular dementia, a frequent type of dementia that develops after many strokes. If this happens, you should expect your loved one to have memory problems and cognitive function to deteriorate over time. It's possible that restoring memory isn't a realistic aim for you and your loved one. Instead, it may be more beneficial to concentrate on short-term goals such as daily tasks or strengthening the muscles on the weakest side of the body.

Working with your loved one's doctor or therapist can assist you and your loved one in establishing realistic rehabilitation objectives.

 

Also Read: Easy Brain Exercises to Keep Your Mind Healthy

 

Finding a means to reduce the controllable risk factors that can lead to another stroke is the best prevention strategy. Establishing an exercise regimen, for example, can help some people restore their balance and range of motion while also lowering their stroke risk factors. Furthermore, talking with a health care provider and doctor about prevention techniques will help you better understand the risk factors.

 

 

What Does Medicare Cover After A Stroke?

 

 

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