Stroke Prevention and Management

Stroke Prevention and Management

Stroke is an injury to the brain, caused by sudden interruption of blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain. The risk factors include the ones which cannot be modified, like age, genetic predisposition and factors which can be modified and controlled like high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, poor diet and lack of physical activity.

The Effects Of Stroke

Every individual is affected differently by stroke. However, some common symptoms are as follows:

• Weakness: Inability to move one or more limbs

• Spasticity: Stiffness and tightness of the limbs

• Imbalance: Postural instability

• Sensory disturbances: Pain or numbness in the affected limbs

• Loss of vision

• Language disturbances: Inability to speak (aphasia) or articulation defects in speech (dysarthria)

• SwallowIng defects (dysphagla)

• Behavioural and personality disturbances like depression, difficulty in concentrating, remembering and making decisions, mood disorders, cognitive disturbances etc.

Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation ¡s a critical part of recovery for stroke patients and several rehabilitation programmes include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and cognitive therapy.

Some common symptoms of stroke are behavioural and personality disturbances like depression, difficulty in concentrating, remembering and making decisions, mood disorders, cognitive disturbances etc.

Guidelines To Prevent A Second Stroke

The risk of having a second stroke increases after having TIA (minor stroke) or an acute stroke. Thus. in addition to following the doctor’s prescription, it would be wise to follow the below mentioned guidelines for quick recovery:

Eat A Healthy Diet
Don’t eat more calories than you can burn per day. Choose foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and milk. Regarding meats, opt for lean poultry meat without the skin and prepare it without adding saturated and Trans fats like ghee, dalda and unrefined oils. Also, quit smoking and alcohol.

Exercise Everyday
Balance the number of calories you eat with the ones your burn, to maintain the best weight. Walk or do other physical activities for at least thirty minutes, thrice a week, or all days.

Monitor Your Blood Pressure
Check your blood pressure levels regularly and take the precise medication as prescribed by your doctor. Do not alter the dose as per your convenience or mood.

Health Tip

The best treatment for a stroke is to prevent a stroke.

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