1. What are the most important things a caregiver needs to know about stroke?
2. Can a stroke patient regain the function that has been lost?
3. Is there a specific diet that can help in the prevention and/or treatment of stroke?
4. Does having a stroke increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease?
1. What are the most important things a caregiver needs to know about stroke?
- Recognize the symptoms:
- Sudden weakness, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden numbness
- Sudden dizziness
- Sudden double vision
- Sudden difficulty talking
- Call 9-11
- Don’t waste precious time. Don’t call your loved one’s primary physician. Don’t drive them to the hospital yourself. Call 9-11 immediately if you suspect stroke.
2. Can a stroke patient regain the function that has been lost
If a stroke patient has significant weakness it can be difficult to get back to where they were before the stroke. But they can improve greatly, especially by continuing to use the affected area, such as a weakened arm. Recovery can continue even after the first year, so it’s important for the patient to keep working and not give up.
3. Is there a specific diet that can help in the prevention and/or treatment of stroke?
Yes. Since high blood pressure is a strong risk factor for stroke, a diet that helps control blood pressure can help. In significant studies, the DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) has shown to reduce blood pressure within two weeks. The National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute provides a downloadable 64-page Dash Diet Booklet, complete with recipes.
4. Is there a specific diet that can help in the prevention and/or treatment of stroke?
There is evidence that having a stroke may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. This may be because the injured brain has fewer resiliencies to defend itself against the disease.
