Strokes.
One of the features of modern life, for many, is stress. The pace of a fast and frantic lifestyle can take a toll on health. Most people know about the importance of taking time out to evaluate their decisions and the impact that this might have on their health but in a practical everyday reality often the pressures of a frenetic schedule can mean that this is not always possible. There are many factors that can influence the state of one’s health and their attitude towards it but the sad truth is that an unhealthy lifestyle can result in the likelihood of sustaining a stroke or other circulatory condition.
There has been a significant improvement in the treatment for cardiovascular disease and the consequence has been in the increased rate of saving lives but the results of long-term mental deterioration from serious trauma can be very detrimental to the quality of life. Recent studies have shown the plasticity of the brain, with appropriate attention, can regain lost functionality. I know this to be a fact as my own mother suffered a stroke that affected her ability to talk. Over time her mental awareness significantly improved and although she succumbed to other medical problems her ability to communicate was a significant indication of the brain’s healing process.
The brain is like a muscle, the more it is used the healthier it becomes. As is the rule with all muscles, good rest is important as the brain during sleep carries out important biological activities of repair. There is no set formula that fits everybody when it comes to strengthening mental capabilities and capacity. However physical exercise, if possible, can greatly boost results. Part of the recovery in stroke related or cardiovascular conditions is overcoming a loss of function in the body. As human beings we rely heavily on our ability of speech as a main point of contact and there might well be embarrassment and frustration, after a stroke, at the elusive correct words disappearing only to be replaced by unconnected sounds as the tongue seems to have a mind of it’s own. One of the most useful experiences that we had during the rehabilitation process was of, perseverance and understanding, this is required by all as a must in order to make progress.
As a boy, my father suffered with what in hindsight could have been, a stroke although it was not diagnosed as such at the time. His symptoms meant that he was greatly influenced by what we now would consider the side effects of a stroke. The affects of his illness had interfered not just with his speech but hearing and to make matters worse he knew something was wrong as he was a musician and unable to hear his own music. When he asked me about the quality of his music I felt compelled to lie as I thought the truth would be too distressing for him. Things come to a head when doors got mixed up with windows and muddled words became difficult to decipher. The frustration was plain to see but at that time I was unaware of the remedial possibility available for people with this condition.
It is hard to imagine the psychological frustration of suddenly being made to feel as if you are a different person to your former self. Basic needs of walking and talking can be lost after a stroke and stumbling and mumbling can become frustrating barriers to overcome. To find yourself trapped in a memory maze of jumbled words, impressions can be incorrect, about who someone is or what they can achieve. Individuals who have a high level of intellect, in some cases might have a loss of control of limbs and facial expressions, this can lead to people making wrong assumptions about what they do or say. In these situations, as I have experienced, each is very much individual but there can be a sense of difficult endurance and many will ask the question of when will there be an end to this living nightmare? That is when the help of other people can reassure and actively individuals can participate in the long and hard road to recovery.
It is true that with a little applied effort the brain has a limitless ability. It is important to remember that even with such bodily traumas as a stroke or cardiovascular conditions, the body has the potential to recover and even strengthen as a result of it. If given the opportunity, the body can astound and the mind can be a marvel, it can be a tough road but one that can highlight human perseverance.
There has been a significant improvement in the treatment for cardiovascular disease and the consequence has been in the increased rate of saving lives but the results of long-term mental deterioration from serious trauma can be very detrimental to the quality of life. Recent studies have shown the plasticity of the brain, with appropriate attention, can regain lost functionality. I know this to be a fact as my own mother suffered a stroke that affected her ability to talk. Over time her mental awareness significantly improved and although she succumbed to other medical problems her ability to communicate was a significant indication of the brain’s healing process.
The brain is like a muscle, the more it is used the healthier it becomes. As is the rule with all muscles, good rest is important as the brain during sleep carries out important biological activities of repair. There is no set formula that fits everybody when it comes to strengthening mental capabilities and capacity. However physical exercise, if possible, can greatly boost results. Part of the recovery in stroke related or cardiovascular conditions is overcoming a loss of function in the body. As human beings we rely heavily on our ability of speech as a main point of contact and there might well be embarrassment and frustration, after a stroke, at the elusive correct words disappearing only to be replaced by unconnected sounds as the tongue seems to have a mind of it’s own. One of the most useful experiences that we had during the rehabilitation process was of, perseverance and understanding, this is required by all as a must in order to make progress.
As a boy, my father suffered with what in hindsight could have been, a stroke although it was not diagnosed as such at the time. His symptoms meant that he was greatly influenced by what we now would consider the side effects of a stroke. The affects of his illness had interfered not just with his speech but hearing and to make matters worse he knew something was wrong as he was a musician and unable to hear his own music. When he asked me about the quality of his music I felt compelled to lie as I thought the truth would be too distressing for him. Things come to a head when doors got mixed up with windows and muddled words became difficult to decipher. The frustration was plain to see but at that time I was unaware of the remedial possibility available for people with this condition.
It is hard to imagine the psychological frustration of suddenly being made to feel as if you are a different person to your former self. Basic needs of walking and talking can be lost after a stroke and stumbling and mumbling can become frustrating barriers to overcome. To find yourself trapped in a memory maze of jumbled words, impressions can be incorrect, about who someone is or what they can achieve. Individuals who have a high level of intellect, in some cases might have a loss of control of limbs and facial expressions, this can lead to people making wrong assumptions about what they do or say. In these situations, as I have experienced, each is very much individual but there can be a sense of difficult endurance and many will ask the question of when will there be an end to this living nightmare? That is when the help of other people can reassure and actively individuals can participate in the long and hard road to recovery.
It is true that with a little applied effort the brain has a limitless ability. It is important to remember that even with such bodily traumas as a stroke or cardiovascular conditions, the body has the potential to recover and even strengthen as a result of it. If given the opportunity, the body can astound and the mind can be a marvel, it can be a tough road but one that can highlight human perseverance.
No comments have been added yet.
