Stroke Prevention and Post Stroke Care
Every year, millions of people worldwide are affected by strokes—an often sudden and life-altering medical event. While strokes can strike without warning, many are preventable through lifestyle changes, risk management, and awareness of early warning signs. Just as important as prevention is the care that follows: recovery and rehabilitation play a critical role in helping stroke survivors regain independence and improve quality of life. In this blog, we’ll explore how to reduce stroke risk and key elements of effective post-stroke care.
Types of Strokes
Ischemic strokes usually happen because a blood clot blocks a blood vessel connected to your brain. Issues that can cause these kinds of clots include:
- Atherosclerosis (hardened arteries)
- Atrial fibrillation (especially when sleep apnea causes it)
- Clotting disorders
- Heart defects (including atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect)
- Microvascular ischemic disease
Hemorrhagic strokes happen when a blood vessel in your brain breaks or tears (ruptures). Causes can include:
- Brain aneurysms
- Brain tumors
- High blood pressure (especially if it’s very high or you have it for a long time)
- Moyamoya disease (and any other condition that weakens blood vessels in your brain)
Stroke Prevention
If you have had a stroke, you are at high risk for another stroke. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 stroke survivors have another stroke within 5 years. Maintaining your overall health is the best way to reduce your stroke risk. It is encouraged to:
- Eat plenty of healthy foods and maintain a weight that’s healthy for you
- Get regular physical activity
- Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol and any health conditions you have
- Quit smoking
Many of the health conditions and issues that can cause a stroke can build up over time, and may not cause symptoms you can notice. Your provider will help you catch and manage any warning signs before they increase your risk of a stroke later on.
Stroke Recovery
Recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, but others have long-term or lifelong disabilities.
It is possible to regain independence with post-stroke rehabilitation. This includes working with speech, physical, and occupational therapists.
- Speech therapy helps people who have problems producing or understanding speech, as well as swallowing difficulties.
- Physical therapy uses exercises to help you relearn movement and coordination skills you may have lost because of the stroke.
- Occupational therapy focuses on improving daily activities, such as eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, reading and writing.
Solidarity Through Support
Culbertson Memorial Hospital’s Stroke Support Group provides a sense of community for those who have suffered from a stroke. Led by Cathy Wilson, each meeting features a guest speaker who can offer guidance on how to navigate life after a stroke. Presentations vary and may feature doctors, therapists, stroke survivors, or others with firsthand experience of strokes.
Meetings are held every even-numbered month beginning in February in the Therapy Gym, located within the Outpatient Specialty Clinic at the hospital. Join us on the third Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October, and December at 3 p.m.
Interested in learning more? Contact Therapy Services at (217) 322-5286.