When you find yourself in the hospital for a stroke, things happen FAST, as they say. “Time is Brain” and the healthcare team acts accordingly. The flurry of scans and tests and assessments can feel overwhelming and scary to the new stroke patient. This environment makes it hard to absorb information, which is why it’s common for people to be... Read More
Emergency medical treatment is critical after a stroke to stabilize your condition before starting rehabilitation. It’s equally essential for your team of therapy specialists to initiate the rehabilitation process early to regain lost function. It’s the perfect time for you or your loved one (preferably your primary care partner) to educate yourselves and ask the available specialists questions to help... Read More
Caring for stroke survivors’ needs is a big, often full-time job. Therefore, it is essential that caregivers also take the time to prioritize their personal needs and care for themselves. Taking much-needed breaks and reaching out for help and support is critical for caregivers’ well-being when looking after a stroke survivor. Community resources, such as respite care, support groups for... Read More
On March 16, 2021, Robin Roope, the Clinical Speech Therapy Lead at Memorial Care Long Beach Medical Center, gave a presentation titled “Stroke, Aphasia, and Apraxia: Tips for Communication” via Zoom to the stroke survivors and caregivers who attend our support groups. Robin began her presentation with a definition of aphasia. “Aphasia is when the language center of our brain... Read More
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with stroke being a leading cause of disability globally. Despite the recent success in reducing stroke incidences in the general U.S. population, there is now a concerning propensity for stroke cases to occur at younger ages. Pediatric Ischemic Stroke Prevalence Children now experience increased stroke... Read More
A decade ago, stroke was the third leading cause of U.S. deaths but has now dropped down to fifth. The higher survival rates are due to advances in medical treatments and care. The right care, done the correct way, can save lives and the survivors’ quality of life. Unfortunately, despite the decreased death rate caused by stroke, the numbers are... Read More
Stroke survivors can experience emotional and behavioral changes during recovery. It is because stroke impacts the brain, which controls emotions and behavior. So you or your loved one may begin experiencing confusion, irritability, sadness, carelessness, and forgetfulness. Some people also feel anger, anxiety, and depression. Others have a range of extreme and unprovoked mixed feelings resulting in bouts of excessive... Read More
Nearly a third of people who experience a stroke also report feeling symptoms of depression. It is attributable to various causes, including the emotions resulting from the physical losses or the overwhelming reality of surviving a stroke and going through physical therapy to recover. Biochemical changes in the brain can also cause post-stroke depression, while brain injury can interfere with a previously... Read More
Neuroscience/Stroke Program Director at Long Beach Memorial Angie West, shared with her fellow Stroke Support Association Board members the exciting news of the mobile stroke unit now transporting stroke patients in the Long Beach area. Having the highly specialized Mobile Stroke ambulance allows the emergency care to be taken directly to stroke patients. This makes Long Beach one of the few cities on... Read More
September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month when the spotlight is turned on this condition—a fluttering of the heart —that makes it 5x more likely to have a stroke. Learn about AFib’s risk factor for stroke and treatments. Lifestyle changes Even if you have AFib, it’s never too late to make lifestyle changes that will lower your risk for stroke and... Read More