According to the National Stroke Association, “Recurrent stroke makes up about one out of four of the nearly 800,000 strokes experienced in the U.S. every year.” For those with parent’s who have experienced a stroke, the fear of a second occurrence can be, at times, overwhelming. Fortunately, helping your parent to make good lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of a recurrence. In fact, it’s estimated that 80 percent of secondary strokes can be prevented with lifestyle changes and medication.
Risk Factors
Risk factors that increase your parent’s susceptibility include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Keep an eye on your parent’s blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. If your parent smokes, it is time to stop. Visit smokefree.gov for tips that can help your parent succeed in getting rid of this highly addictive substance in their lives. A good diet and exercise plan are the keys to controlling the other risk factors.
Diet
Their diet must consist of an abundance of fruits and vegetables. One good dietary plan that is easy to implement is the plate plan. In this plan, different types of food are divided on the plate: half of the plate is filled with fruits and vegetables, one-quarter of the plate contains high-quality protein and the other quarter consists of whole grains.
The choice of foods will be dependent on whether high blood sugar is an issue for your parent. If it is, choose non-starchy vegetables and whole grains such as quinoa and couscous. Beans as well as lean-meats, poultry and fish are good protein sources. Wild-salmon is particularly good due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids.
What they don’t eat is often as important as what they do eat. Avoid trans-fats and saturated fats. Keep processed and packaged foods to a minimum. Limit alcohol consumption to two drinks per day.
Exercise
If your parent has been left with any physical limitations, their health care team will most likely consist of physical rehabilitation therapists. Make sure you discuss what activities your parent can do at home to help in the recovery process. In most cases, these will consist of leg, core, arm, wrist, hand, finger and even eye exercises that both strengthen and increase flexibility. For those with paralysis, passive exercises may be suggested. As your parent progresses, they may have a tendency to decrease the frequency of their exercise routine. Remind them that keeping an active lifestyle is essential to long-term health and should consist of at least 30 minutes of activity 5 days per week.
Senior Care Provider
A senior care provider can assist your parent with the daily activities of living. They can encourage both good dietary habits by preparing healthy meals and an exercise routine by accompanying them on daily walks. They can provide transportation to their appointments as well as that all-important contributing factor to recovery: companionship.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional senior care in Claremont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
Resources:
http://www.stroke.org/we-can-help/survivors/stroke-recovery/first-steps-recovery/preventing-another-stroke
- Do You Need Help with Personal Care for Your Senior? - September 16, 2019
- Causes and Risk Factors for Shingles in the Elderly - September 12, 2019
- Five Reasons Your Senior Might Need a Daily Routine - September 5, 2019
