“When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood and I
have discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think I’m going to
say something important.” - Kirk Douglas
Just the very mention of the word stroke strikes fear into the minds of most people. It conjures up images of disability, or losing the ability to speak and, in severe cases, even to death. One stroke survivor told me that after suffering a stroke his life quality had changed so dramatically that he sometimes became so depressed and frustrated that he had moments when he regretted having survived. But there is hope, and there is help available too.
Harry
(not his real name) was the last person one would have thought was a high risk
candidate. He has never smoked or drank, carried no extra weight and has
enjoyed a stress free life. He is in his seventies and his wife in her mid
eighties. One morning, without any warning, he slumped over the breakfast
table. Until the stroke he had enjoyed good health. Harry is a musician. He had
been an accomplished organist and choirmaster, teaching the organ and playing
in his local parish church. His enthusiasm lead to the installation of a small
pipe organ in his house. It is fair to say that music was his life. The stroke
has left him incapable of using his left arm and leg. He will never play again.
He now depends almost totally on his wife which adds to his frustration. He is
now dependent on mobility aids. There is much help available. If stairs are a problem then a stair lift is the answer, used in conjunction with other aids
such as a wheelchair, walking sticks and frames and a bath lift, together with regular
physiotherapy.
Harry
and his wife have now had the stress of moving home to Stoke-on-Trent to
receive excellent care based at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire
where people suffering Stroke are more likely to survive than anywhere else in
the country and also to be near to family as extra support.
Our Stroke service in Stoke on Trent
A stroke occurs when the blood supply is cut
off to the brain. Blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen to the brain,
and without a blood supply, brain cells can be damaged or destroyed, and are
not be able to do their job. Strokes occur in different parts of the brain, and
can result in damage to your body, dependent on which part of the brain has
been affected. For example, if the part of the brain which controls how limbs
move is damaged, the ability to move can be damaged or even lost.
. Source: University Hospital of North
Staffordshire NHS Trust http://www.uhns.nhs.uk
When a person shows symptoms of having a stroke,
speed is essential and ringing 999 should never be delayed. Much is being done
on TV and in the media to alert the public to F.A.S.T.
Just how common are strokes?
Males Females Total
UK 19,287 30,079 49,366
England 15,824 24,743 40,567
N. Ireland 489 750 1,239
Scotland 1,889 2,875 4,764
Wales 1,085 1,711 2,796
It is interesting to note that women
appear to be at greater risk of stroke than men.
How can I reduce my risk of having a stroke?
Most medical information suggests that the risk of having a stroke can
be reduced by five actions:
 |
| Source:Flickr-GeorgieR |
Cutting down
on how much alcohol you drink
Eating a
healthy diet - cut down on salt and fatty foods
Taking regular exercise
Having regular blood pressure checks
Are there signs of
hope for stoke patients?
According to the BBC News website, one current
experimental procedure involves injecting stem cells into the damaged area of
the brain. Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh reports that a UK company is
applying for permission to transplant stem cells made from human foetal tissue
into the brains of stroke patients. ReNeuron, based in Guildford, has told the
BBC that they have what they are calling ‘convincing evidence’ that damaged
brain cells, as a result of a stroke, could potentially be regenerated.
Professor Keith Muir of Glasgow University has expressed
“surprise” at the moderate improvements in the five patients trialled. However,
he stresses that it is too soon to tell if the progress can be attributed to
the procedure. The results will be presented at the European Stroke Conference
in London.
One patient, 80 year old Frank Marsh, has reported
encouraging changes in his condition. The normal period during which some
improvement may naturally occur following a stroke is twelve months. Frank had
his stroke five years ago. His wife said that he had reached a plateau and
progress had stopped. Following the treatment he has gained some hand movement
and can now dress himself, tie his shoe laces and hold on to things. To regain
such simple actions, which the rest of us take for granted, must bring huge hope
to the stroke victim.
Like my friend Harry, Frank is a musician and
shares the frustration of no longer being able to play. In Frank’s words “I’d like to get back to my piano and walk a
bit steadier and further.”
Source:
BBC News
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are the body’s raw materials from
which all other cells, having a specialised function, develop. If we think of
the cell stems as the ‘parent’ then as the cells divide ‘daughter’ cells are
produced. These either become new stem cells (self-renewal) or become
specialised cells (differentiation) with a specific function such as blood
cells, brain cells, heart muscle or bone. Cells can be genetically manipulated
to regenerate or repair diseased or damaged tissues.
Who may benefit from stem cell therapy?
In the broad term, we all do because certain stem cells can be used to
test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs.
More specifically, benefits may be seen in patients suffering spinal
cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, heart
disease, burns, cancer and stroke.
Amongst the latest reported research, involving injecting stem cells
into the area of damaged brain of stroke survivors is not without controversy.
Scientific research involving both human and animal research and resources is
always subject to ethical questioning.
The stark fact is that stroke survivors are currently not going to make
a full recovery but who knows what future treatment may achieve. It is more a
case of learning to adapt to the situation, aided by some excellent support from the heath experts, suppliers of mobility
aids and, very importantly, self help and dedicated carers. It is worth
repeating that physical symptoms are not the only obstacle to
be overcome. Understandably, patients experience levels of depression
and frustration, sometimes taking this out on those who are caring for them,
ironically often those to whom they are the closest such as their partner or
children.
What help is out there for carers?
As well as the GP and Occupational Therapists, informed information is
available from organisations whose knowledge is based on first-hand experience.
‘One in ten people in the UK is a carer.Being a carer can be a kind, admirable and selfless act. At times though, it can be challenging and carers have told us that they sometimes feel overwhelmed,exhausted and isolated. Stroke is a sudden and serious condition and can come as a shock. Suddenly seeing a loved one unwell can be very upsetting. You might not understand what has happened or may find it difficult to know how to support them. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, but as you come to terms with what has happened, you might want to know how you can help.’
Source: http://www.stroke.org.uk/factsheet/stroke-carers-guide.
Stroke exercises and treatment
Moving around safely is taken for granted,
unless you suffer a stroke. Some survivors experience paralysis of an arm
and/or leg, and balance issues add to the difficulties. Some 40% of survivors
suffer serious falls within a year of suffering their stroke. Weakness in a
muscle or group of muscles results from the inability of brain signals to get
through and of course lack of movement results in the muscles becoming weaker.
Exercise and movement is essential and a regular programme of exercises set out
by an expert physiotherapist is very important. Many of these exercises can be
done whilst sitting or lying down. Swimming can be excellent, but of course
always under correct supervision. Walking, bending and stretching are all
beneficial. Experts warn against fatigue and all exercise regimes should be
tailored to the individuals needs.
Treatment is a combination of therapy and
medicines. In addition to the motion exercises, splinting or casting can be
used to give support or to straighten a foot twisted by muscle weakness. The
release of chemicals which cause muscle contraction can be inhibited by the use
of botulinum toxin.
Source:
http://www.stroke.org.uk
One other area of interesting therapy is
that of kinetics. The ability to use kinetics or 3D pictures of movement, may
hold a link to a new procedure to assist with the rehabilitation of stroke
survivors by gait analysis, the study of how people walk. The leading research
is taking place at Missouri University. It is claimed that cameras installed in
people’s homes to collect data and analyse their movement may be able to act as
an early warning system to health issues including falling and mobility
impairment, providing advanced movement analysis for physiotherapy.
Meanwhile,
at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, UK, Kinect games are being used to
help rehabilitate stroke patients. Titles such as Kinectimals and Kinect
Bowling help redevelop
coordination following a trauma. Doctors say that the ability to focus on
natural movements and activities is vastly beneficial over the traditional
physiotherapy where patients would be stretched and pulled to rebuild sensation
and muscle strength.
There are also mobility exercises for rehabilitation and stroke recovery based around neurophysiotherapy. An enterprisinig firm in New Zealand has combined clinical therapeutics developed at Otago in New Zealand ,which is a worldwide centre of excellence in falls rehabilitation, with a computer to help rehabilitate upper body function after a stroke.
Here's a video of it in action.
In
conclusion, suffering a stroke is a cruel and debilitating trauma but there is
a great deal of help available and the future holds some exciting possibilities
to give hope to all, both survivors and carers. If you would like to visit your local Stoke mobility aids showroom we can show you some of the products that other stroke survivors have found useful, indeed necessary in their new phase of life.
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