Helping a Loved One After a Stroke

Stroke is a disease that affects arteries that lead to the brain, as well as those within the brain. It’s the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and other nutrients to the brain is either blocked or bursts. As a result, cells in the area of the brain where the damage occurred die because they no longer get the nutrients they need. 

At Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, board-certified neurologist Dr. Cory Lamar and our team specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating stroke in our patients in Naples, Florida, including rehabilitation. If you’re a caregiver for someone who’s had a stroke, here’s how you can help them through the healing process.

What are the different types of stroke?

There are several different types of stroke:

1. A transient ischemic attack (TIA)

A TIA is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain caused by either a blood clot or a mass of fatty plaque. In most cases, the blockage dissolves or is dislodged, and the symptoms usually last only a few minutes.

A TIA presents with a sudden onset of:

• Weakness, numbness, or paralysis on one side of the body
• Slurred speech or difficulty understanding others
• Blindness in one or both eyes
• Dizziness
• Severe headache with no apparent cause

While a TIA doesn’t cause permanent damage, it’s a sign that you may have a major, full-blown stroke coming down the pike. That’s why you should get help immediately, even if the symptoms are short-lived.

2. Ischemic stroke

An ischemic stroke occurs when there’s a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the brain. These account for about 87% of all strokes.

The primary cause of ischemic stroke is atherosclerosis, commonly called “hardening of the arteries.” With this issue, fatty deposits (plaque) line the artery walls, causing them to narrow and become more stiff. Fatty deposits can cause two types of obstruction:

Cerebral thrombosis: Here, a thrombus (blood clot) develops at the location of fatty plaque within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain.

Cerebral embolism: Here, a blood clot forms, usually in the heart or one of the larger arteries in the upper chest or neck. Part of that clot breaks free and travels through the bloodstream until the vessels become too narrow to let it pass. It lodges in the blood vessel, blocking further blood flow.

3. Hemorrhagic stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes comprise about 13% of strokes and occur when a weakened vessel ruptures, bleeding into the surrounding brain tissue. As the blood accumulates, it compresses and destroys the tissue.

Hemorrhagic strokes can be intracerebral (within the brain) or subarachnoid (between the inner and outer layers of the tissue covering the brain).

Helping a loved one after a stroke

You can do many things to help a loved one after they’ve had a stroke.

Survivors are at high risk of having another stroke, so try to reduce risk factors like high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. Ensure your loved one eats healthy foods, exercises, takes medications as prescribed, and visits Dr. Lamar regularly.

Understand that many factors can influence recovery: which brain region was affected, how much brain tissue was impacted, the survivor’s motivation, the caregiver’s support, the quantity and quality of rehabilitation, and the survivor’s pre-stroke health. Ask the doctor what types of therapy your loved one will need (e.g., physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy).

Watch for changes in attitude and behavior, such as having a hard time controlling emotions. Seeing a mental health specialist can help. This is especially true for depression, as some 30-50% of stroke survivors develop depression during their recovery.

Take care of yourself – you can’t take care of someone else if you’re not OK. Ask other family members, friends, or neighbors to help relieve you sometimes. Make sure to eat healthfully, exercise, and get enough sleep.

If your loved one has had a stroke and you need information about how to care for them, Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, can help. Call our office at 239-667-5878 to set up a consultation with Dr. Lamar, or book online with us today.