What to do after a stroke?

Today, we want to talk about the first cause of acquired disability in adults: strokes. In the United States, every year, more than 795,000 people have a stroke. Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds.

Do you know someone who has suffered a stroke or have you experienced one yourself? Suzie is saddened to know this, but know that there are solutions to prevent a second stroke.

Stroke in the health field means: a cerebrovascular accident. It is caused by a blood clot that obstructs a brain vessel. This leads to a deprivation of oxygen and nutrients in the brain cells.

According to the American Heart Association‘s 2011 Stroke Prevention Guide, a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of having a stroke by up to 80%.

Together, we will review the right actions to take after a stroke.

Digital tools to support you on a daily basis

Here are two tablet apps that can help you. These apps have been developed with speech therapists, occupational therapists and neuropsychologists. They are specially designed for post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation.

THE ROLLING BALL

This game is different from the others in the application because it does not directly ask to perform a task or to solve a puzzle. But it can still be an activity to stimulate the language of a person after a stroke.

At the end of the reading, you can ask the person questions to make sure they understand the text. You can also ask them to summarize to stimulate phrasing in a logical way.

Once identified, the person must use hand-eye coordination and finger motor skills to select the correct animals and drag them to the arch.

You can ask to pick up the first animal with one finger and the second animal with another finger. You can also stimulate fine motor skills (using only the index finger, then the middle finger for example) or bimanual skills (using only the left hand first, then the right).

These skills are essential for orientation, so this game can be used in cases of orientation disorders.

This game can also be used in case of hemineglect, since in order to solve the puzzle, it is necessary to analyze the whole visual field.

Finally, to move the pieces, you can stimulate finger mobility as well as eye-hand coordination.

Maintain a healthy life

Overweight people and those with high cholesterol are most at risk of having a stroke. However, being overweight is often caused by poor nutrition and an unhealthy lifestyle. After a stroke, it is important to choose a healthy and balanced diet while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This means that you must cut down on all excesses: tobacco, alcohol and sugars. For lipids, it is important to prioritize vegetable fats (olive oil, coconut oil, soybean oil) and foods rich in omega-3 (butter and eggs with an omega-3 label, fish etc.) while keeping the size of the servings reasonable. These lipids help to regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

It is also preferable to avoid fatty meats (pork, lamb, beef) and to prefer lean meats (chicken, veal). In fact, animal fats are likely to increase the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.

After a stroke, you must do things intentionally to maintain a normal weight. This is why it is crucial to practice a sport adapted to your situation. A sedentary life leads to excess weight gain. You must choose an activity that suits you best in order to exercise regularly (at least 3 times a week). It should aim to improve your motor skills. Proper diet and lifestyle will help prevent a second stroke.

In addition, a kinesiologist can be consulted. The role of this specialist is to help the patient improve his or her functional and physical abilities. Kinesiologists are referred to as health educators. Of course, rebuilding yourself after a stroke is not easy. Besides the help provided by specialists, activities such as music, drawing or writing will help you learn how to rebuild yourself better. Other professionals inlude: physiotherapist, orthopaedist, occupational therapist and social service assistant.

Advice on how to cope with everyday life

Loss of motor skills, emotional instability, visual problems… All these problems can occur after a stroke. Once back at home, it is useful to adopt good reflexes if you want to improve your quality of life as the days go by. Take advantage of innovative solutions, whether it’s for washing, dressing or getting out of bed in the morning. There are clothes that open from the front, shower stools, bed elevators, etc. Don’t hesitate to use them!

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