Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke Recovery: It’s Never Too Late

Every 45 seconds, someone in this country suffers a stroke. For the lucky ones, their symptoms are recognized for what they are, and they are rushed to a hospital. Early treatment is imperative because, for all the advances that have been made in acute stroke care, time is of the essence. But even early treatment is no guarantee of a good outcome. More than one in five strokes are fatal, and lingering speech, motor, and vision problems are common. Click here for a list of stroke symptoms.

The Conventional Approach to Stroke Recovery

After the initial phase, stroke treatment consists of surgery, drugs, and rehabilitation. Some patients opt for carotid endarterectomy, a surgical procedure in which blockages are removed from the carotid arteries that deliver blood to the brain. Drug regimens include warfarin (Coumadin) and other side effect-riddled anticoagulants to reduce risk of blood clots that may cause future strokes.

Rehabilitation involves physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy to improve function and teach patients to deal with deficits. Rehab can produce enormous gains. Unfortunately, because of insurance limitations and other factors, rehabilitation is often stopped after several months. This is a shame because due to the brain’s amazing plasticity, restoration of function is possible months, even years following a stroke.

Alternative Therapies for Stroke

Whether it’s administered immediately following a stroke or months to years afterward, the single-best treatment for stroke and its long-term disabilities is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). When blood flow to the brain is interrupted—as it is during both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes—the affected area is cut off from oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood, and brain cells (neurons) die. Although some neuronal death is irreversible, other cells in the immediate area are not dead but simply “asleep.” This is the area targeted by HBOT. 

HBOT “wakes up” affected neurons with massive amounts of oxygen. This therapy, which is administered by breathing 100 percent oxygen in a pressured chamber, literally floods the area with healing oxygen. HBOT also stimulates angiogenesis, or growth of new blood vessels, and stimulates the release of rejuvenating stem cells from the bone marrow. A treatment course of 20 or more sessions can result in remarkable improvements. To learn more about this extraordinary therapy, click here.

Nutritional Supplements for Stroke Recovery

People who have had a stroke are at increased risk of a repeat stroke. Therefore, it’s important that they shore up on protective nutrients. Vitamin C, magnesium, fish oil, and B-complex vitamins have all been shown to reduce stroke risk, so it is vital to include them your daily supplement regimen. Also recommended is nattokinase, an enzyme derived from a Japanese fermented soy food that has the remarkable ability to prevent and dissolve blood clots, lower inflammation, and improve circulation. For more information on stroke prevention, click here.

Lifestyle Changes for Stroke Rehabilitation

A prudent diet and exercise program are crucial for regaining and maintaining health, no matter what the problem, and stroke is no exception. If you’ve had a stroke, exercise, including physical therapy, is particularly important.

The tragedy is that most people give up too soon. Do not listen to conventional physicians who say there’s no possibility of further recovery. It’s simply not true. Given the right therapeutic tools and willingness on the part of the patient, further functional improvements are more than achievable—they’re inevitable.