HCA image People who survive a stroke often suffer serious, long-term disability. Stroke damage can result in paralysis, numbness, imbalance, and difficulty thinking and communicating. While there is no way to reverse the effects of a stroke, it is possible to regain some of the function lost during a stroke.

What Happens During a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either by a blood clot in a vessel or artery leading to the brain (ischemic stroke), or a break in a blood vessel in the brain itself (hemorrhagic stroke). During a stroke, brain cells quickly die because they no longer have access to the oxygen and nutrients they need.

Treatment During a Stroke

Intravenous (IV) alteplase is a drug that dissolves blood clots during ischemic strokes. To be effective, it must be given within three hours after a stroke begins, which usually means arriving at the hospital within the first 60 minutes after symptoms occur.

If you or someone you know experiences the following symptoms of a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately:

    
  • Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

    • Rehabilitation After a Stroke

    While stroke rehabilitation cannot “cure” stroke damage, it can help stroke survivors become more independent. What exactly can people do to improve their health and quality of life after having a stroke?

    Exercise

    The American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommend that adults exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days per week.

    Exercise can strengthen muscles and improve mobility. This can help a stroke survivor do daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, walking, and doing household chores. For example, a study published in journal Stroke found that a resistance-training program improved lower extremity strength, as well as function and disability in older stroke survivors. Another study found that participating in sports activities on a regular basis can reduce a person's risk of having a stroke. Before beginning an exercise program, talk with you doctor, who may recommend adding handrails or harnesses to exercise equipment in order to make exercising safer.

    Exercise sessions can be divided into 10-minute intervals and should include stretching, cardiovascular exercises, and strength training.

    Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy

    After a stroke, physical therapy can help restore some of the function lost in a stroke. Physical therapy for stroke survivors may include stimulating impaired limbs, stretching, and practicing motor tasks (ie, walking up or down stairs). People too weak to bear their own weight can perform physical therapy exercises in the water, supported by a harness. Goal-oriented activities, such as games, are often used to promote coordination. A new technology, called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), generates an electrical current and stimulates nerve activity in impaired limbs.

    Similar to physical therapy, occupational therapy is utilized in stroke patients to help improve motor abilities. Occupational therapy specifically targets improving motor skills that will help the stroke survivor perform activities such as housecleaning, gardening, arts and crafts, and even driving.

    Speech therapy is often helpful for stroke survivors who are generally able to think clearly, but have problems speaking or understanding speech or written words.

    Sensorimotor Training

    A study in the journal Stroke indicated that repetitive sensorimotor training of the arm during the first weeks after a stroke significantly improves motor function up to five years later. In this study, the participants were seated in a rocking chair for 30-minutes each day for six weeks, while an inflatable splint pushed them forward; they had to use their arm strength to actively push themselves backward.

    Stroke patients should begin stimulation of their weakened arms soon after a stroke. Repetitive stimulation can result in significant improvements in future functioning.

    Treatment of Anxiety and Depression

    A study published in Stroke found that depression and anxiety, which are common after a stroke, were associated with handicap two years after a stroke. The study’s authors suggest that treating depression and anxiety may help reduce the level of handicap in stroke survivors.

    Researchers have also found that people who are depressed after a stroke may be able to decrease their feelings of depression by taking medicine and participating in talk therapy and behavioral therapy.

    The Future of Stroke Rehabilitation

    According to the author of an article published in Stroke , “Brain recovery after stroke is the area of scientific discovery with the largest potential for advances far into the next century.” As researchers gain a better understanding of how the brain is organized and how brain cells communicate with one another, they will be able to develop new rehabilitation therapies to help reverse post-stroke damage.

    Prevention of Further Strokes

    Persons who have had a stroke remain at increased risk of suffering a further stroke at some time in the future. Fortunately, and depending on the cause of the initial stroke, a variety of treatments can be employed to significantly reduce that risk. Be sure you discuss with your doctor how to reduce your stroke risk in the future.