Because mild strokes do not typically cause major impairments, recovery is usually fast. Sometimes recovery from a mild stroke can occur within 3-6 months. Other times it can take longer. There are many variables that affect the time it takes to recover.
It can take many months before post-stroke fatigue starts to lift. The more you push yourself the worse you are likely to feel. Accepting that it takes time to improve can help you to cope better. Keep a written or visual diary of how much you are doing each day.
Activities like water aerobics, Zumba, spin, yoga and pilates all offer something different. You can choose something energetic that gets your heart working or you can focus on flexibility and strength. Some groups use music and some have a social side.
Some people regain full use of their arm in the weeks after a stroke. Many others still have some weakness, pain, or other problems with their arm. You may continue to benefit from arm therapy. Your medical team can tailor your treatment plan to your needs.
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.
Mini strokes resolve quickly and lead to a full recovery. However, while mini strokes themselves are not life-threatening events, they are a warning sign of a more serious stroke in the near future. Therefore, patients who experience a TIA should take immediate steps to address any stroke risk factors they may have.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a prevalent symptom among stroke survivors. This symptom is an independent risk factor for stroke and may reduce stroke survivors' quality of life, cognitive functioning, and daytime functional performance.
Around 70%reported that their TIA had long- term effects including memory loss, poor mobility, problems with speech and difficulty in understanding. 60%of people stated that their TIA had affected them emotionally. There is no way to tell whether a person is having a TIA or a stroke when the symptoms first start.
The physical impact of the stroke on your brain and body can trigger fatigue. In the early weeks and months after a stroke, your brain and body are healing. The rehabilitation process can involve trying to do things in a completely new way, or learning and doing exercises which can be very tiring.
A person who experiences a TIA may have a 10-20 percent risk of having a full stroke in the next seven days depending on the cause, Streib said. The American Stroke Association confirms that 9 to 17 percent of people who have had a TIA have a stroke within 90 days.
Driving after a TIA
Although a TIA should not have a long-term impact on your daily activities, you must stop driving immediately. If your doctor is happy that you have made a good recovery and there are no lasting effects after 1 month, you can start driving again.
A mild stroke is also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is when blood flow to a part of the brain, spinal cord, or retina briefly stops. This can cause momentary stroke-like symptoms but doesn't harm brain cells or cause permanent disability.
While exercise is necessary for good health and recovery after stroke, it's important for patients to avoid overexercising. Pushing the body too hard can potentially result in regression or exacerbate conditions like post-stroke fatigue.
Chronic stress can indirectly cause a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack or mini stroke). For instance, chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, which is a known risk factor for stroke and heart disease. Stress can also cause inflammation in the arteries all over the body.
To recap, your best choices are hydrating beverages that contain minimal calories, sugar or salt. Reach for water, coffee or tea most often. And keep a water bottle handy – the visual cue reminds you to keep sipping.
Recovering from a stroke requires time, patience, and, perhaps most important of all, rest. Support and empathy from family members or a support group is highly encouraged as this can be a difficult process.
Once your provider has determined the cause of the TIA , the goal of treatment is to correct the issue and prevent a stroke. Depending on the cause of the TIA , your provider may prescribe medication to reduce the tendency for blood to clot or may recommend surgery or a balloon procedure (angioplasty).
Managing blood pressure levels, reducing or quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and regular physical activity will reduce the risk of a second stroke, along with managing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
The initial recovery following stroke is most likely due to decreased swelling of brain tissue, removal of toxins from the brain, and improvement in the circulation of blood in the brain. Cells damaged, but not beyond repair, will begin to heal and function more normally.
Stress can cause the heart to work harder, increase blood pressure, and increase sugar and fat levels in the blood. These things, in turn, can increase the risk of clots forming and travelling to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.