Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and high fibre varieties such as breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa and barley. Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, seeds, legumes and beans. Milk, yoghurt, cheese and their alternatives – mostly reduced fat.
You should limit sweets, cakes, biscuits and processed and fatty meats. It's important to also switch the saturated fats in your diet for unsaturated fats and to reduce your salt intake by avoiding high-salt foods like processed meats, salty snacks and ready-made soups, as well as not adding salt to foods.
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.
The most rapid recovery usually occurs during the first three to four months after a stroke, but some survivors continue to recover well into the first and second year after their stroke. Some signs point to physical therapy.
You can help this process by practising rehabilitation activities. There is no time limit on neuroplasticity, and it doesn't only happen during therapy. Every time you take an extra step, say a new word, or do a hand exercise, it helps the brain make new connections.
Studies have also demonstrated that sleep can improve learning and memory, both of which can play a role in stroke recovery. Memory and learning often go hand in hand. Sleep promotes the processing and consolidation of memories.
How Does a Stroke Impact Life Expectancy? Despite the likelihood of making a full recovery, life expectancy after stroke incidents can decrease. Unfortunately, researchers have observed a wide range of life expectancy changes in stroke patients, but the average reduction in lifespan is nine and a half years.
Fatigue may improve with time but it can also be persistent and some patients may never be completely free of it. Tasks that may have come easily before the stroke may be harder and therefore require more energy then they previously would. Management of fatigue is best done with lifestyle changes.
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.
Drinking at least three cups of green or black tea a day can significantly reduce the risk of stroke, a new UCLA study has found. And the more you drink, the better your odds of staving off a stroke.
Potassium: Potassium controls blood pressure and may result in a better outcome after a stroke. Bananas, which can be easily eaten when pureed, are rich in potassium.
Avocados
The soluble fiber found in avocados regulates the body's use of sugars and lowers the blood cholesterol levels of senior stroke survivors. Avocados contain fiber, monounsaturated fat, minerals, and vitamins that keep the heart healthy.
In fact, of the 795,000 Americans who will have a first stroke this year, 23 percent will suffer a second stroke.
For example, 79% of people survive 2 years, 61% survive 3 years, …, 5% survive 16 years, and only 1% survive 20 years.
Some change to your behaviour is to be expected, and although it may be difficult to live with at times, it's likely to improve. Many people find that they have to learn what's 'normal' for them again after they've had a stroke. This will take time, for you and the people around you.
After six months, your rate of recovery slows down, but it doesn't end. Some stroke survivors can continue to improve for up to 18 months post-stroke, depending on the rehab they receive. You may need stroke rehab for weeks, months, or years.
After a stroke, you may feel like you lack energy or strength and feel constantly weary or tired. Post-stroke fatigue does not always improve with rest and is not necessarily related to recent activity. So it is not like typical tiredness. You might experience post-stroke fatigue after a mild or more severe stroke.
With the right amount of rehabilitation, a person's speech, cognitive, motor and sensory skills can steadily be recovered. Although just 10% of people almost fully recover from a stroke, 25% have only minor impairments and 40% have moderate impairments that are manageable with some special care.
While cognitive decline may continue post stroke, about one-fifth of patients with cognitive impairment improve. Most improvement occurs in the first 3 months after a stroke although recovery may continue for up to a year (Teasell, McClure, Salter, Murie-Fernandez, 2014).
Puzzles and games – jigsaws, crosswords, sudoku, playing board games or computer games. Reading – books or newspapers or magazines. Needlecraft – books, newspapers or magazines (these may be available in different formats such as large print or audio). Sport and physical activity – watching or taking part.
Some people may feel more like themselves within just a few days, without any lasting physical or cognitive issues. But for others, it may take several months to heal or adjust to any long-term effects.