To commemorate Stroke Awareness Week (28 October until 1 November 2024), it is vital to raise awareness about one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Founder of SuedeWellness, Life Resilience Institute and Johannesburg-based, Sue Ramauthar – who is a seasoned physiotherapist and wellness ambassador with over 20 years of experience – share that a stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. She says that without prompt treatment, these cells can die, leading to lasting damage, disability, or even death. Fortunately, many strokes are preventable, and with the right interventions, recovery can be supported through physiotherapy that helps with rehabilitation. Here are some tips as to how you can combat the risks of a stroke.
Prevention plays a crucial role in reducing the incidence of stroke. Although some risk factors, such as age and family history, cannot be controlled, others are modifiable through lifestyle changes and medical management. Here are key ways to reduce stroke risk:
- Manage Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is the most significant modifiable risk factor for stroke. Regular monitoring and controlling blood pressure through lifestyle changes, medication, and exercise can reduce the risk dramatically.
- Control Diabetes: People with diabetes are at higher risk of strokedue to the damage high blood sugar levels can cause to blood vessels. Managing blood sugar levels and maintaining a healthy diet are crucial steps in stroke prevention.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking accelerates the damage to blood vessels, increasing the risk of stroke. Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to lower the risk.
- Adopt a Healthy Diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol, and reduce strokerisk. Limiting salt and processed foods is also essential.
- Exercise Regularly: Physical activity improves cardiovascular health, helps maintain a healthy weight, and reduces the risk of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which contribute to strokerisk.
- Limit Alcohol Intake: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and contribute to other health issues that raise the risk of stroke. Moderation is key.
Physiotherapy plays an important role in both the management and prevention of strokes. It helps individuals regain mobility, strength, and function after a stroke while also contributing to long-term prevention strategies.
Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
After a stroke, many survivors experience physical impairments that affect movement, balance, and coordination. Physiotherapists are essential in helping stroke survivors recover and regain their independence. Here’s how physiotherapy contributes:
- Improved Mobility and Balance: Physiotherapists work with strokesurvivors to improve their ability to move, whether it’s learning to walk again or improving balance. These interventions can reduce the risk of falls and further injury.
- Strength and Coordination: Muscle weakness and coordination issues are common after a stroke. Physiotherapists design tailored exercises to help rebuild strength, improve joint mobility, and regain motor control, essential for daily activities like dressing, eating, and walking.
- Spasticity and Muscle Tone Management: Many strokesurvivors experience spasticity—stiffness or involuntary muscle contractions. Physiotherapy can help reduce spasticity and improve muscle tone, allowing for smoother movements and better function.
- Enhancing Cardiovascular Health: Physiotherapists also focus on improving overall cardiovascular fitness. Regular, safe exercise can lower blood pressure, control weight, and reduce the likelihood of another stroke.
Physiotherapy as a Preventative Tool
Physiotherapy is not just for post-stroke care; it can also play a preventative role. Physiotherapists can guide patients with high stroke risk factors, such as hypertension or diabetes, through exercises that target cardiovascular health, weight management, and mobility. Regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to lower stroke risk, and physiotherapists can help design personalized programs to suit each person’s needs and abilities.
Moreover, physiotherapy encourages movement and fitness, key components in preventing sedentary lifestyles, which can increase stroke risk.
This Stroke Awareness Week, it’s important to remember that strokes can be prevented with lifestyle changes and medical management. Physiotherapy is an essential part of post-stroke recovery, helping individuals regain their strength, mobility, and independence. Additionally, physiotherapy can be a proactive tool in stroke prevention by promoting physical activity and improving cardiovascular health. By taking these steps, we can significantly reduce the burden of strokes and enhance quality of life for many individuals.
If you or a loved one are at risk of stroke or recovering from one, consider speaking to a physiotherapist for guidance on how movement and rehabilitation can play a pivotal role in your journey.
MORE ABOUT SUE RAMAUTHAR
Sue Ramauthar, founder of SuedeWellness, Life Resilience Institute, is a renowned keynote speaker and physiotherapist with over 14 years of experience in the corporate wellness domain. Her career is marked by the successful implementation of wellness initiatives that have significantly enhanced the personal and professional lives of countless individuals across various organisations.
Sue’s professional ethos is defined by her boundless energy, unwavering optimism, and meticulous attention to detail. She is a strong advocate for continuous innovation and creativity in wellness, adeptly leveraging advancements in digital technology to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of wellness programs.
With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience, Sue has honed her skills in strategic planning, accountability, and fostering ownership in all her endeavours. Her ability to inspire positive change and adapt to the evolving landscape of corporate wellness makes her a leading figure in the field.
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