life after stroke blog
Stroke recovery is challenging for all, including the survivors and their caregivers. In this blog you will find useful articles and resources that will help you stay mentally and physically healthy in life after stroke.
Emotional Changes After a Stroke
A stroke is a life-changing event that can cause a range of emotional changes. It’s normal to experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, and frustration
Stroke Awareness Month
May is Stroke Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness about stroke, its causes, and its impact on individuals and families. Stroke is a
Meditation and stroke recovery
Meditation can be daunting, but with the right tools it can change your life. Simple daily meditations can over time change the physiology, in other
Stroke in young people
When we think of stroke, we often think of an older population being affected. However, strokes can happen to anyone, regardless of age. In fact,
Caregiver burnout: what is it and how to prevent it
Caring for a loved one who has suffered a stroke can be a challenging and rewarding experience. While providing care can be a fulfilling experience,
What happens during a stroke?
Explaining what happens during a stroke can be challenging. This informational video hosted in TED ED and accessible through YouTube, educates in a simple and
Ashley’s story — the silent cavernoma
Two days after giving birth to her son, Ashley felt there was something wrong with her. She decided to have a glass of wine with
Jeri’s “Stroke of Luck”
It had been four days of an intense headache for Jeri. Sitting on the couch around 10pm, she was working on her laptop when her
Neuroplasticity and stroke recovery
What is neuroplasticity and what role does it play in stroke recovery? The brain is an extremely complex part of the body, made up of
Andrea’s story — stroke after pregnancy
Andrea’s story begins three weeks before her due date; she had been going to regular check ups due to increased high blood pressure her doctor
Keith’s story – Strength After Stroke
Keith’s stroke story is one of difficult challenges and inspiring next steps. He had a fantastic family, a beautiful house in Oregon, and was the
Stroke in women – risk and symptoms
Although more men have strokes per year than women, women’s strokes tend to be deadlier. This is due to a variety of factors, including significantly
Gabriela’s story
My name is Gabriela and I survived a massive sinus vein thrombosis that left me paralyzed on my right side immediately after the stroke. I
Supporting someone with aphasia
It is estimated that 20-40% of stroke survivors will have some type of aphasia with varying degrees of impact in communication abilities. In this article
Types of aphasia
Aphasia is the inability to speak, read, write and/or listen. Around 20-40% of stroke survivors will experience some degree of aphasia and thus can have
7 goals to add to your recovery plan
Recovery after a stroke isn’t just about the physical aspect of getting your strength and mobility back. Our minds are so powerful they can hold
Coping with uncertainty after a stroke
Uncertainty can be a large part of the stroke recovery journey. After a stroke, you may find yourself asking questions about what comes next, when
Disability after a stroke
Every year, 15 million people around the world are affected by stroke. Of those, it is estimated 50% will live with permanent or chronic disability.
Armored — Dawn’s care-coaching story
A caregiver is rarely “ready” to start taking care of someone battling an illness. And sadly, stroke doesn’t announce itself with enough time to prepare
Changes in behavior after a stroke
Changes in behavior after a stroke are common, expected and treatable. Stroke survivors will usually experience changes in mood, depression, frustration, and anxiety, among others.
Taking care of your mental wellbeing as a caregiver
Caregiving is physically challenging, time-consuming, and mentally draining — taking care of your mental wellbeing as a caregiver is as important as taking care of
Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT)
Rehabilitation of upper limbs can look very different for many people. However, constraint-induced movement therapy (or CIMT) is frequently used as a therapy to re-learn
Telehealth during quarantine
Since lockdown started, pretty much everything in our lives changed. Our entire routine was thrown out of the window and we had to suddenly adjust
Stroke prevention — what you need to know
As mentioned in the warning signs, there are elements of stroke we can control and others we don’t. Those factors that we can control have
What are the types of stroke?
There are three main types of stroke; each one of them results in different treatment and recovery therapies. Ischemic stroke An ischemic stroke occurs when
Stroke risk factors — what we do and don’t control
As with most diseases, there are elements of risk that we can control or do something about and others that we simply cannot do anything
Warning signs of a stroke
Understanding and being aware of the warnings signs of a stroke — as well as acting F.A.S.T — could save a life and make recovery easier for
YouTube channels for rehabilitation exercises
For many stroke survivors getting in to see a physical therapist is difficult and sometimes just not a possibility at all. Thankfully there are great
Tips for getting a good night’s sleep
After a stroke you may experience difficulty sleeping. The causes can vary — from side effects of medicine you may be taking, to finding it
Five tips for caregivers during quarantine
Quarantine has been difficult for everyone, and being a caregiver is in and of itself a huge challenge. We have gathered 5 tips for caregivers
Team involved in stroke rehabilitation — who are they?
For many people stroke rehabilitation begins at the hospital, usually as soon as you’re awake. There is a wide array of medical professionals involved in
COVID-19 and stroke patients
The novel COVID-19 virus has shaken up our lives and with that comes more challenges when recovering from a stroke. In this article we will
Robotic arm helps in rehabilitating arm use after stroke
Many stroke survivors experience weakness or complete paralysis in one arm, often requiring a strenuous rehabilitation program in a stroke rehab or physiotherapy center. Rehabilitation
Resilience and stroke recovery – three things resilient people do
Resilience is defined as: “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.” From the moment we are born, life has a
Going back to work after a stroke — what to expect
After the life changing experience of having and surviving a stroke, you gain a different way of looking at life and with that, you may
5 apps to make daily tasks easier
Tiredness, forgetfulness and lack of organization are very common issues in the first few months of a stroke. Your brain is regenerating and you’re having
5 apps to track your diet
Diet and exercise are essential parts of staying healthy during your stroke recovery. We’ve gathered five of the most useful apps to track your daily
Dressing during stroke recovery
For many people, a stroke means suffering from partial paralysis or losing range of motion in arms and legs. Dressing after a stroke can be
