Strokes: How to Recover and Prevent Them
According to the National Stroke Association®, 795,000 people each year are affected by strokes. They are one of the leading causes of long-term disability in adults, although they affect everyone differently. The article states that a stroke can cause brain cells to either be permanently killed or temporarily damaged and that there is no way to tell because there is so much that is still unknown about the brain and how it compensates for damage caused by experiencing a stroke. Generally, the article states, 10% of those who experience one recover completely, 25% recover with few impairments, 40% have moderate to severe impairments and need special care and 10% require care in a long-term care facility. Depending on the severity of the stroke, there are many rehabilitation options that you or a loved one can consider.
According to Edward Toy, Director of Sales and Marketing at Lions Gate, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Voorhees, New Jersey, a stroke can cause many conditions after occurring. “Those who experience a stroke can often go through many physical, cognitive and emotional conditions,” he states. “Depending on the severity of the damage, the rehabilitation, the recovery time and the success can vary. For some, it is a lifelong process, including recovery, rehab and preventing another from occurring. It is important to be patient, persevere and come up with creative solutions to problems in order to improve function and perhaps experience early recovery.”
THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
An article by the National Stroke Association® states that there are many conditions that develop afterwards that can improve with time and rehabilitation at either a rehabilitation unit in a hospital, subacute care units, home therapy, outpatient therapy or a long-term care facility that provides therapy and nursing care. At any of these facilities, they can help you or a loved one manage the physical, emotional or cognitive conditions that may be faced afterwards.
- Physical. After experiencing a stroke, symptoms such as weakness, numbness or stiffness are to be expected. You or a loved one may become tired much more often, have difficulty swallowing or have muscle weakness on one side of your body that can cause it to be hard for you to walk or use one side of your body. This can be managed through physical therapy. Talk to your team about what you are experiencing, they are there to help.
- Emotional. Depression, anger, anxiety and hopelessness are common effects post-stroke. However, if not kept in check, it can worsen many other conditions which can hinder you or a loved one’s recovery. Talk to your doctor to see if medication or therapy can help you. For more information, click here.
- Cognition. Because of possible damage to the brain, cognitive changes can occur post-stroke. Communication can be affected by a condition called Aphasia, and it can keep you from finding the right words to communicate how you feel, cause you to have trouble understanding what others are talking about and can cause issues when reading or writing. With speech therapy, full recovery from aphasia is possible. Other problems, such as memory loss or even vascular dementia can occur. Memory loss can improve over time and full recovery is possible, but vascular dementia is a bit trickier. Read more about vascular dementia here and talk to your doctor about your options.
According to the National Stroke Association®, if you have a stroke once, your chances of experiencing another increase. The article states that within the first five years of experiencing a stroke, the risk of another occurring will increase more than 40%. The chances of recurrent strokes within five years affect 24% of women and 42% of men. According to the article, it has been suggested that 80% of recurrent strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and medical interventions, which makes it that much more important to make these changes in order to stop another from occurring.
5 WAYS TO PREVENT HAVING ANOTHER
- Quit Smoking & Control Alcohol Use. Smoking and drinking more than two drinks per day has the ability to increase the risk of another stroke by 50%. This is because smoking increases clot formation and alcohol increases blood pressure.
- Manage Blood Pressure & High Cholesterol. As stated before, cutting down alcohol can lower your blood pressure, however, talk to your doctor to see what else can be done to prevent high blood pressure. High cholesterol can block blood flow to the brain and increase risks as well.
- Increase Physical Activity & Eat Healthy. Not only can this help your blood pressure and cholesterol, but it can also help decrease your likelihood of experiencing a stroke and prevent the likelihood of diabetes.
- Keep Diabetes in Check. Those who have diabetes are four times as likely to have a recurring stroke. Talk to your doctor to see what you can do to manage your diabetes.
- Take Medicine as Prescribed. Within the first three months, a quarter of survivors quit taking their prevention medication. This is when the chance of having another is highest, according to the National Stroke Association®, make sure to take medicines as prescribed and never stop taking them without consulting a doctor.
YOUR TOP REHABILITATION CENTER FOR RECOVERY
“One of the best ways to recover following a stroke is to take part in a rehabilitation program. At Lions Gate, we provide inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation in order to get you back on your feet again.” Ed states. “Here, you will work closely with a physician and care team who will work together to develop a plan all around your needs. We are more than equipped to help you or a loved one recover while simultaneously training you and your loved one on where to go from here.”
Lions Gate was recently named one of the best nursing homes in the country for 2016-17 by the U.S. News & World Report based on ratings in health inspections, nurse staffing, medical quality measures and rehabilitation therapy.
Although Lions Gate is a Continuing Care Retirement Community, anyone can be directly admitted and take advantage of our inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation services. Contact Lisa Turner at (856) 679-2213 or [email protected] to see how we can help you or a loved one recover.
EXPERIENCE LIFESTYLE, CARE, COMMUNITY AND TRADITION AT LIONS GATE.
Lions Gate, located in Voorhees, NJ, offers a continuum of lifestyle and care options rooted in Jewish traditions and values. Whether you are in need of Independent Living,Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing or Rehabilitation Services, Lions Gate has you covered.
Our mission at Lions Gate is to enrich the lives of those we serve through quality and compassionate care consistent with our heritage and values. We strive to provide programs and services that inspire well-being, as well as social, cultural and spiritual independence.
As a full-service community rich in wellness programs, meaningful experiences and educational opportunities from Lions Gate University, Lions Gate allows residents to connect with those who share their interests and cherished traditions. Our goal is to provide residents with an active, worry-free lifestyle filled with ways to connect with others, pursue their passions and be engaged in everyday life. While we focus on Jewish customs and traditions, we welcome people of all faiths to the Lions Gate family.
Through our affiliation with Jewish Senior Housing and Healthcare Service, we also offer three senior living communities for those with limited incomes.
