With more than 795,000 people suffering from a stroke in America each year alone, it is no wonder that it is one of the most talked about problems. Although it is most certainly a killer, a lot of people do manage to survive. Not everyone has the same symptoms or is left with the same result. Recovery times also differ between individuals, with some people managing to make a full recovery and others finding that they are left with disabilities.
However, there are things that you can do to either make the best recovery that you possibly can or speed up your recovery so that you can be back doing what you want to do.
#1 Take Plenty of Rest
Although you may feel that you are not moving fast enough toward your full recovery, you must give yourself plenty of time to rest and recuperate. Your body will likely crave sleep after you have suffered a stroke and this is perfectly normal. Your body requires sleep for your brain to heal itself.
However, in saying this, physical activity is important, as it will help the blood flow and oxygen through the brain, which is crucial for brain activity.However, by doing too much, you may find that it slows down your recovery rate, rather than helping to speed it up.
#2 Build Your Confidence with Your Speech
Your speech has likely been affected by the stroke that you have experienced, and this is likely to have given your confidence a knock. Social interaction is a very important part of life. No social interaction can make someone feel cut off and alone. If you are struggling to get your words out or are finding that those around you are not understanding what you are saying, you could very well find that you are feeling very alone even in a crowded room.
In these cases, it is a good idea to enlist the help of a professional speech therapist to help you get back to the old you. Getting your voice heard and being able to talk to people is a very large part of getting your confidence back. You can read more by using this link on how speech therapy works and how it can help you.
#3 Follow a Healthy Diet
As with all things, what you put into your body can help. When you are recovering from a stroke, your body will undoubtedly require certain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to help it in its healing process. Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and mackerel, are likely to be beneficial.
Here, you may find it highly beneficial to consult with a nutritionist who will be able to tell you what foods you should be eating to increase the speed of your recovery, as well as the foods that you should avoid.
Final Thoughts
Be sure to listen to your body and if you need to rest or sleep do it. Physical activity will be good for you, but only in moderation, and over stressing yourself could end up doing more harm than good, and putting your recovery date back.
Don’t let your speech ruin your confidence. Getting a speech therapist involved could help your speech, pronunciation, and oral-motor skills.
Your body will heal faster and better if you feed it what it requires. Speak to a qualified nutritionist to get a full list of the dos and don’ts of what foods you should be consuming to speed up your recovery.