Stroke Survivors: Unleashing the Path to Recovery

Dr.Madhukar Bhardwaj, 4 mins read

A stroke is an emergency condition that calls for urgent medical attention. Globally, it is the second leading cause of death since 2000. And it is estimated that stroke prevalence will increase due to the rise in the world’s ageing population.

Identifying the symptoms early and getting timely treatment can save a person’s life. However, many of those who survive it may encounter many physical and psychological challenges after discharge from the hospital. These problems are difficult to cope with, but proper support and rehabilitation can be helpful.

In this blog, we’ll understand what challenges can come across and how to overcome them.

Challenges

The problems could be different for each individual. Some experience limb weakness, memory loss, speech impairment and decreased concentration. Others may have anxiety, depressive moods and frustration.

The rehabilitation period extends far beyond the hospital discharge. Patients may often require persistent and empathetic support to address their versatile routine challenges.

This biggest challenge is that in many cases, patients doubt their likelihood of improvement. As a result, their motivation slides down to continue their rehabilitation. That’s why having a caregiver and following up with a healthcare provider is necessary.

Ways to tackle the challenges and continue rehabilitation

It takes continuous effort, time and commitment to fully recover from the stroke. The rehabilitation will start during the hospital stay. It involves improving the blood flow to the brain, reducing any localised pressure and lowering risk factors for stroke. Rehabilitation will be based on the patient’s condition and which part of the brain is affected by the stroke.

Understanding these things, the patient will be put on a customised rehabilitation plan. This will aid the patient in speech, writing, movement, strength and daily activities. Following are some things you need to keep in mind to help your loved one who is on the road to recovery from stroke:

Diet plan

The diet plan is somehow similar to a heart-healthy diet as both stroke and heart disease have the same cause. The diet after stroke basically focuses on involving unprocessed, fresh food, which is low in sodium and unhealthy fats.  

Include antioxidant and potassium-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet as they help reduce damage to blood vessels and control blood pressure respectively.  The fibre found in fruits and vegetables lowers cholesterol. And the folate in green leafy vegetables is beneficial in lowering the stroke risk. Dairy products, calcium-rich soy, almonds and tofu are also good sources of potassium and calcium.   

In addition, there are some food items which you need to avoid. For example, avoid excessive salt intake as it can raise blood pressure. Instead, you can use herbs and spices. The same goes for sugar and saturated fats. Excessive amounts of sugar can damage the blood vessels and saturated fats can raise cholesterol levels. Also, the patient is advised to avoid alcohol because it raises stroke risk.

Exercises

Exercise plays an important role in recovery. Physical exercises lower blood pressure level, cholesterol and control sugar in the body, thus, maintaining good brain health. The patient needs to exercise at least 2-3 hours every day.

Talk to your doctor for a customised exercise plan. A few of the exercises that are usually advised are:

• Knee extensions exercise
• Seated marching exercise
• Ankle dorsiflexion exercise
• Trunk rotation exercise
• Knee-to-chest sexercise
• Toe tap core exercise
• Tabletop circle exercise
• Unweighted bicep curls exercise
• Open arm exercise
• Weight-bearing exercise
• Table-top lateral & forward pushing exercise
• Wrist flexion and extension exercise
• Wrist curl exercise
• Hand rolling movement
• Pen spin activity
• Palm up and down exercise
• Cane stretch

Moreover, the patient is advised for gait training exercises, constraint therapies and targeted exercises.

Speech therapy

It is another problem that stroke survivors usually face. To overcome this, the doctor advises a few exercises. For example, practical speech sounds, breathing exercises, tongue strengthening exercises, naming pictures and sentence practising, among others. A speech therapist will help you throughout your journey of rehabilitation.

Get the patient enrolled in a support group

These groups are incredibly helpful to support the patient through psychological challenges. Support groups allow a patient to connect with people who are going through the same problems. The patient will also learn coping strategies there. You can search on the internet for a nearby support group or ask the doctor for the same.

Consult a doctor

If you suspect any emotional or physical changes in your loved ones, talk to a doctor. They will suggest strategies to cope with the changes. If needed, they may also recommend medicines and other treatment options to ease the symptoms.

Also, Read: Managing Multiple Sclerosis