Stroke is defined as a cardiovascular disease that affects the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain. This pathology is also known by other names such as thrombosis, embolism or stroke. Normally, it occurs for several reasons such as leading bad lifestyle habits (addiction to drugs or alcoholic beverages and smoking), as well as having high blood pressure, advanced age (in general it is more common in people over 55 years old), suffering from diabetes mellitus or having some heart disease, among others. Stroke affects more and more people in developed societies but, once it has happened, is it possible to recover? The answer is yes, although everything will depend on the level of affection of each person. In we tell you how to recover from a stroke. The importance of time in recovery from a stroke.
Time is one of the most important keys in recovery from a stroke. And it is always essential to start the recovery and the rehabilitation process as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the easier the recovery will be and also the person will be able to have more mobility, more ability to communicate and resume their life with total normality.
In this way, it is always best to begin the rehabilitation process indicated by the doctor in the first six months after the stroke. After that time, the person may notice improvement, but it will be more difficult to achieve excellent results.
However, despite this haste, it is sometimes not advisable to start recovery on the same day or after the stroke. It is always necessary for the patient to be medically stabilized. That is, you must have your glucose level and blood pressure fully controlled. In this other article we tell you how to treat a stroke so that you know what is the method that is usually carried out in these situations.
But time is not only important to start treatment, but it is also important to determine the period in which recovery should take place. And it has been found that, with longer treatments, the more effective it is achieved with the patient.
Recovery from stroke in its initial phase
Normally, the recovery process of a stroke is not the same for all people because it will depend on the type of stroke that has been had and the sequelae produced.
In any case, it is common for the doctor to propose that a treatment be followed to recover mobility, be able to speak normally and swallow food without problems, among others, with physiotherapists, neurologists or speech therapists, among other specialists. This is carried out in several phases in which it is also recommended that the patient follow a control of their emotions because depressions or anxiety pictures may appear, among other disorders.
In the initial phase of recovery, in addition to following medical guidelines, a series of guidelines can be adopted to facilitate the life of the person with stroke and contribute to their better recovery. They are small gestures with which, in addition, other diseases or additional problems will be avoided:
- The bed is best tilted about 45 degrees so you can breathe better. In addition, at bedtime, it is convenient to avoid noise and light because it usually bothers this type of patients a lot, especially if they have had to be operated.
- Making an active life is totally convenient, but to the extent of the person's possibilities. Although you can do little exercise or just take a few steps, it is important to do it to recover mobility little by little. It's not good to sit on the couch or be in bed all day.
- The person with stroke needs to eat small bites and it is best to opt for foods that are easy to chew because they may have trouble chewing and swallowing them.
- When bathing, it is key to dry all the skin and hair well, paying special attention to the possible wounds that may have appeared due to a possible urinary or stool incontinence. It is essential to extreme hygiene and care in this area of the body.
Tips for recovering from stroke when you're at home
When the doctor has discharged from the hospital, even if you have to go to the treatment center to follow the rehabilitation program, you have to be patient because a stroke patient usually takes between six months and a year to recover.
The person who is already at home must take care above all of his physical state and also his mental mood. As far as possible, it is always convenient to resume daily life and put on small challenges to overcome them. But it is important that they are assumable so as not to cause more anxiety or discouragement. It's always about moving forward.
The emotional state is especially important at this stage because, upon getting home, the person will notice that he cannot continue to do his life as before and that he will need help for some functions. It is easy for depression or anxiety to appear. So that it does not happen, it is essential to stay active depending on each one and be busy both physically and mentally. This way there will be no room to have negative thoughts.
To all this is added the fear that a new stroke and the discomfort of some sequelae that have remained that are manifested, for example, through headaches. As long as they do not persist with analgesics and are accompanied by fever or bleeding from wounds, it is advisable to go to the doctor quickly.
Guidelines after stroke recovery
In the case of some people, after the stroke they will not recover their normal life or go to work, but others will be able to do so although, in general, a slower pace is required.
- Taking care of yourself at this stage is also key because people who have already suffered a stroke are more likely to have another one. And what can be done? These guidelines are fundamental:
- Follow a healthy diet based on eating fresh vegetables and fruits. In addition, fats should be avoided and little salt should be taken. Food always has to be as healthy as possible.
- Exercise moderately, but regularly. Sedentary life does not favor anything.
- Adopt good habits such as quitting smoking, not abusing alcoholic beverages and, of course, not taking drugs.
- Control sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as weight because obesity increases the risk of having a stroke.
- Avoid stress or at least reduce it as much as possible.
They are tips and recommendations on how to recover from a stroke that we tell you in and that we hope will help you whether you have had a stroke or if you live or have an affected person nearby. Remember that it is always convenient to consult with doctors to give the most appropriate guidelines to each patient.
