Doris Gullickson is one of the women that most inspires me. She has just recently returned home from a 75 day stay in Great Falls after suffering a slight stroke that was in a crucial spot in her brain. She and I had a conversation about how important it is to understand the signs of a stroke and the prevention of having one. She thought I should write an article about strokes, but the important part of this story is Doris herself!
Doris's stroke took place over a longer period of time. Her left leg felt numb and weak one afternoon at work. She went home that night and didn't go to the hospital in Big Sandy till the next morning. When Doris went to the hospital she could still move her legs and arms. "I was told by doctors that probably no one would have caught it." Her stroke was so slow coming. It kept getting worse over the days, which was scary because they didn't know when it would stop.
Doris can walk with the help of a walker, but spends time in a wheelchair to help with the fatigue. Her left leg doesn't behave her like she would like it to, nor does her left hand, but they are improving. Doris will tell you she has a little slur when she talks, but I didn't hear it. She says she works on it, that it takes more effort and she has to think a little more. She still laughs, she still inspires, she is still the most caring individual with enormous strength and resilience.
Doris was telling me about a book, The Brain That Changes Itself, by Norman Doidge. It introduces readers to neuroplasticity, which I don't pretend to understand but it is about "the brain's ability to change its own structure and function in response to activity and mental experience". I started reading it and it's fascinating to read how the brain heals itself. Doris told me, "The huge thing is repetition and some of your right-hand skills transfer to the left." Visualizing and therapy daily is a part of her daily routine. She told me, "You have to give yourself a pep talk every day."
Doris still goes to Great Falls once a week for therapy. She said what she learned while being in Great Falls was how important people are. "It was wonderful to be visited by so many people." She also realized how important cards are. "It's so nice to know someone is thinking about you." She was just blown away!
While recovering in Great Falls those first 75 days Doris was surprised to learn that the patients all had different symptoms. They also had different brain damage.
For the sake of simplicity, I will quote the National Stroke Association, "a stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures)."
"A stroke is a "brain attack". It can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost."
"How a person is affected by their stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. For example, someone who had a small stroke may only have minor problems such as temporary weakness of an arm or leg. People who have larger strokes may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability."
There are nearly 800,000 people a year that experience a stroke. That means a stroke happens every 40 seconds. Every four minutes someone dies from a stroke and up to 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented. I have to repeat that; 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented a fact that was news to me. Having a stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S.
It is true that as we get older we are more likely to have a stroke as does having a relative who had a stroke. But we often sabotage our health which leads to a higher possibility of having a stroke. Although there is nothing we can do about our family history there are seven areas that we can change to avoid having a stroke. We can change before a stroke has the chance to strike.
First, high blood pressure is a huge factor, doubling or even quadrupling your stroke risk if it is not controlled. "High blood pressure is the biggest contributor to the risk of stroke in both men and women," according to the National Stroke Association. "Monitoring blood pressure and, if it is elevated, treating it, is probably the biggest difference people can make to their vascular health."
Reduce salt in our diets, stop eating high-cholesterol foods, eat 4-5 cups of fruits and vegetables every day, and eat fish 2-3 times a week. Get more exercise, at least 30 minutes of activity a day (and more, if possible they say.) And lastly quit smoking! All things we've heard so many times.
Secondly, obesity raises your odds of having a stroke. If you're overweight, losing as little as 10 pounds can have a real impact on your stroke risk. Eat fewer calories and exercise.
Thirdly, although they have already mentioned it two times previously, exercise more. Walk around your neighborhood every morning after breakfast and when you do exercise at a level where you're breathing hard, but you can still talk.
Fourth, having one drink per day may lower your risk, but once you start drinking more than two drinks per day your risk goes up sharply.
Fifth, treat any shortness of breath and get regular checkups.
Sixth, "Treat your diabetes because having high blood sugar damages blood vessels over time, making clots more likely to form inside them.
Seventh, "Quit smoking", they mention it again. Nothing more to say about that.
The National Stroke Association has created an easy acronym to help you remember, and act on, the signs of a stroke. FAST F-Face; Does one side of your face droop when you smile? A-Arms when you lift both arms, does one arm drift back down? S-Speech; Is your speech slurred or does it sound odd? T-Time; If you see any of these signs in yourself or someone else call 911 right away. Getting medical treatment within three hours of the first symptoms of stroke can make the difference between recovery and a lifelong disability.
