STROKE SURVIVOR

COOKBOOKS FOR SOUL FOOD HEART HEALTHY RECIPES

2008-03-19T16:08:00.002-07:00

By Stroke Association

Afraid of eating too many unhealthy foods this season? Have no fear. The 46 Healthy Soul Food Recipes cookbook has an array of alternative recipes that are delicious — and healthy. The cookbook puts a healthy spin on 46 traditional recipes such as Three-Cheese Macaroni Bake, Cornbread Dressing, Chicken Jambalaya and Warm Peach Bread Pudding, and is available on ShopPower.org for only $3.99. Each recipe in this cookbook is lower in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium than the normal recipes of the same foods.

QUIT SMOKING

Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable death in the United States. Among blacks, 27 percent of men and 18.5 percent of women smoke. If you smoke, your risk of heart disease and stroke is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Constant exposure to other people's tobacco smoke increases your risk even if you don't smoke.

PTES - FAMILY REUNION TOOL KIT

Family reunions are a wonderful way to stay connected, and to learn and teach about your family heritage and traditions. It is also a great time to inform and remind family members that stroke is a major health threat.

CONDUCT POWER SUNDAY AT YOUR CHURCH

We are asking churches across the nation to participate in their own Power Sunday—any Sunday of the year—by discussing stroke awareness with their congregations.

BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS

2008-03-19T16:00:00.002-07:00

By: Stroke Association Web page.

Excerpted from "What's New with Your Blood Pressure?", Stroke Connection Magazine September/October 2003 When diet and exercise aren’t enough to control high blood pressure, doctors prescribe one or more types of medicines. Doctors choose medications carefully to match patients’ profiles.

The major types of high blood pressure medicines include:
Diuretics Lower blood pressure by helping the body get rid of excess fluid.
Generally the doctor’s first choice and the least expensive. Often used in combination with other medicines.

Beta-Blockers

Block adrenaline from binding to heart muscle, lowering the pulse. Also used to treat heart disease, migraine headaches and heart palpitations.

Alpha-Blockers

Work much like beta-blockers to reduce adrenaline’s effect on heart muscle. Used for other medical conditions such as prostate problems.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Open blood vessels by reducing the flow of calcium ions into vessel walls, allowing blood to flow more easily.

ACE Inhibitors

Relax your arteries by neutralizing a hormone that constricts vascular walls. Help control congestive heart failure, other heart problems and diabetes.

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

Work similarly to ACE inhibitors by blocking angiotensin, but don’t produce a persistent, dry cough, a side effect of ACE inhibitors.

Vasodilators

Open the blood vessels and allows blood to flow more easily

Recent Studies

The PROGRESS study showed that an ACE inhibitor called perindopril reduced the rate of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke by about one-third in patients who’ve already had strokes. On average, systolic blood pressure (top number) went down by 10 to 12 mm Hg and diastolic was reduced by 5 to 6 mm Hg. A combination of indapamide (a diuretic) and perindopril was even more effective. An NHLBI study that involved more than 42,000 people with hypertension (not just stroke survivors) found that diuretics, the oldest and cheapest high blood pressure medication, were more effective than newer, more expensive drugs.

The study concluded that:

Because thiazide-type diuretics are more effective and cost less, they should be the drugs of choice for first-step antihypertensive therapy. For the unusual circumstance when a patient cannot take a diuretic, calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors may be considered. Most hypertensive patients require more than one drug. Diuretics should generally be part of the antihypertensive regimen that includes lifestyle changes, such as a modified diet and regular exercise.

PRAY FOR OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMAN

2008-03-14T14:54:00.002-07:00

By Author unknown--a friend sent this to me via email

I personally know what these kids are going through. I am a Vet of V.N. and also served in the Armed Forces before I had my strokes.

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away ' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great- grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood, and now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

Prayer Wheel

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq.

There is nothing attached... This can be very powerful...Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

VATIAN ANNOUNCES SEVERAL NEW SINS

2008-03-12T12:26:00.001-07:00

By: Taken off the Front Page of Yahoo News--Philip Pullella Posted Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:00am PDT

In reading this article it said that the Vatican had listed several "new sins," that includes polluting our environment. I agree with the Vatican that polluting our environment is a sin. I don’t know if it is really a deadly sin, in that, one would go to Hell, but I believe it is a sin and a slap in God the creator’s face.

This article said that the Vatican had added one more social sin to the already 10 Commandments found in scriptures. The new sin reads: “Thou shall not pollute the Earth”. Then the article then goes on to say, “Thou shall beware genetic manipulation”. I again agree this is a sin of murder in a more social acceptable thinking.

I again agree for these two sins point to our modern times and the failing morality of mankind. I think whether Roman Catholic or Protestant we must stand together to voice our strong opinions again the sins of the environment and the human race. Yet we as “the people” remain silent and don’t place the responsibility for these sins upon us as individuals. We are all guilty parties for not voicing our moral beliefs to the Federal Government, for its turning a blind eye upon the medical/scientific community and big business in desecrating our fragile environment, and not being more compassionate towards mankind.

The reporters of the world questioned the Vatican about their stance on bioethics and I love the Vatican’s come back. They agree that bioethics is uncharted territory, but we are violating the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments and genetic manipulation. I wish the Vatican would ask all Christian Church leaders to join them in this immoral act toward the human race. For I totally agree that as we go down this road we can not predict or control bioethics. I believe that all Religious leaders of the world equally oppose stem cell research that involves the destruction of embryos and the prospect of human cloning

I am calling out to all religions of the world to come alongside Pope Benedict and together make a strong appeal to protect our environment and oppose bioethics of stem cell experimentation.

HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?

2008-03-11T15:54:00.002-07:00

By: Aan Orthopedic Surgeon............

This will boggle your mind and you will keep trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's preprogrammedin your brain!

1. While sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air withyour right Hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it! You andI both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you aregoing to try it again, if you've not already done so. Send it to your buddies to frustrate them too.

BREAST CANCER A REAL KILLER

2008-03-10T11:07:00.002-07:00

By: taken from the Breast Cancer Foundation's web page

As a pastor for almost 36 years I have seen many families toren apart by this terrible affliction. I also have several very close friends of mine including my own sister-in-law who are survivors of this specific deadly cancer. That is why I whole heartly support this organization.

Visit the Breast Cancer site and find out how you can partner with them in aiding needy woman throughout our Nation. Give some needy woman real help--and hope in their hour of need.

Seattle - 50 screenings: Polly's Place
Portland - 500 screenings: Adventist Medical Center
Denver - 78 screenings: Denver Mission Serving the Homeless
Bakersfield - 500 screenings: San Joachin Community Hospital
Los Angeles - 760 screenings: White Memorial Hospital, LA Mission, Watts Health Foundation
San Diego - 900 screenings: Council of Community Clinics: 31 centers in San Diego County
Pheonix - 300 screenings: Mayo Clinic Serving Southern Arizona
Houston - 1,250 screenings: M.D. Anderson Medical Center Good Neighbor Screening Program
Little Rock - 1,000 screenings: Baptist Health Breast Center Serving Northeast Arkansas
State of Mississippi - 1,500 screenings: Mississippi Department of Health Serving all major hospitals in the entire state
Rochester - 400 screenings: Mayo Clinic Serving Southern Minnesota
Omaha - 500 screenings: Nebraska Medical Center Serving the Omaha-Lincoln Area
Grand Rapids - 500 screenings: Spectrum Health Foundation
Chicago - 3,050 screenings: St. Alexius Medical Centers, Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, Swedish Covenant Hospital
Indianapolis - 500 screenings: St. Vincent's Medical Center Serving Central Indiana
St. Louis - 1,000 screenings: St. Anthony's Medical Center Serving Missouri Lexington - 500 screenings: University of Kentucky Hospital Serving Appalacia
Orlando - 100 screenings: Florida Homeless Council Serving Central Florida
Jacksonville - 300 screenings: Mayo Clinic Serving Northern Florida
Cincinnati - 320 screenings: Bethesda Foundation
Columbus - 750 screenings: Ohio Health Foundation, Mt. Carmel Foundation
Cleveland - 1,500 screenings: Cleveland Clinic Serving Northern Ohio
Detroit - 750 screenings: St. John Hospital Foundation, Pontiac Hospital
New York City - 2,700 screenings: American-Italian Cancer Foundation & Sloan-Kettering
Boston - 1,750 screenings: Massachusetts General Hospital Serving all New England
Maui - 500 screenings: Maui Health Foundation Serving the Hawaiian Islands
Puerto Rico - 72 screenings: Hospital San Pablo del Este Fajarido
Serving San Juan Area
National Breast Cancer Foundation

www.nationalbreastcancer.org
The Breast Cancer Site is proud to be partnered with the nonprofit National Breast Cancer Foundation in its mission to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and providing mammograms for those in need.

Janelle Hail is a breast cancer survivor and the founder and President of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. She is a 26-year breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, NBCF has a four-star Charity Navigator rating and has funded tens of thousands of free mammograms for working poor, homeless, and uninsured women, and reached many more through its educational initiatives. More than 80 percent of National Breast Cancer Foundation funds go directly to its programs.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation's focus is to save lives now through early breast cancer detection. Mammograms are one of the best methods to catch the disease before it's too late. In fact, if the disease is caught early enough, the five-year survival rate is 96 percent.

The Foundation has forged relationships with hospitals all over the United States, and together they reach out to the surrounding communities, especially to women who might not otherwise have access to mammograms. Learn more about the work we are achieving together by reading the following stories of hope from the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

AVOIDING ANOTHER STROKE

2008-03-08T18:54:00.001-07:00

Having already experienced a stroke means that your risk of having another is higher than someone who hasn't had a stroke. By controlling all the risk factors you can can reduce your risk of recurring stroke.


		Nutrition Good nutrition is one way to reduce your risk of recurring stroke.


Exercise Though limited physical abilities may prevent some survivors from doing some forms of exercise, it's important to find ways to stay as physically active as possible to reduce your risk of recurring stroke.


		Controlling Risky Conditions Learn more about how many conditions contributing to the risk of stroke or recurrent stroke can be controlled.


Following Doctor's Orders Following your doctor's and pharmacist's orders after a stroke is crucial to controlling the conditions that could increase your risk of another stroke.


		Receiving Quality Care Accreditation and recognition programs that help identify hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and healthcare professionals providing quality care for stroke patients.

STROKE FAMILY WARMLINE

2008-03-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

The Warmline is a team of three people who answer calls from stroke survivors and their families, providing support and helpful information or just a listening ear. Although everyone at the ASA's national call center is qualified to answer questions about stroke, the Warmline team members have some particularly special experience; either they are stroke survivors themselves or have a family member who is.

When another team member, Dan Rodriguez, went to work for the American Heart Association and saw the people across the room handling stroke calls, he knew he had to do it, too. He had been through two frightening experiences when his wife had strokes.

After having a hemorrhagic stroke at age 30, Norman Marshall went through rehab and then lived with his brother for a year before moving out to take care of himself. Norman's own recovery plays a big part in what he tells people who call. "I get to let people know that there is life after stroke."

Emily Springer, the third person on the team, had personal experience with stroke as a teenager when her grandfather had a stroke that left him unable to speak or walk. She likes to point out material in Stroke Connection Magazine that answers questions for families that call the Warmline.

Call 1-888-4-STROKE (1-888-478-7653) to reach the Warmline team.

READING REHABILITATION AFTER STROKE

2008-03-08T18:36:00.002-07:00

Excerpted from "Reading Rehab,"
Stroke Connection Magazine July/August 2004

Stroke often produces reading difficulties. This “acquired dyslexia” or “alexia” may occur with or without other language challenges and even when writing ability is intact.

The inability to read interferes with work and recreation for many survivors, making it difficult to follow written instructions, pay bills or use the computer. The ease and pleasure of reading is often replaced by effort and frustration. However, many improve their reading through spontaneous recovery, direct practice or compensatory strategies.

The Geography of Dyslexia

Stroke causes many different types of dyslexia. This variety reflects two things: 1) the way normal reading ability is organized in the brain, and 2) the size and location of an individual stroke. The brain’s left hemisphere supports most language functions, including reading, but the right hemisphere does have some normal reading ability. Because of this, a person with a left hemisphere stroke can regain some reading ability via the injured left hemisphere as well as the right hemisphere.

A Variety of Forms

Silent reading can be easier than reading aloud following stroke. This is because word retrieval is a lingering challenge for nearly all stroke patients, and this difficulty in recalling words for speech can affect reading aloud just as it affects conversation. On the other hand, some individuals have a hard time recognizing written words or abstract ones, which may be harder to read than regularly spelled or concrete words. There may be a difference in a survivor’s ability to read single words versus sentences or paragraphs.

Some Ways Around the Reading Block

To compensate, many individuals use audiotape resources such as Books on Tape. Instructional materials for many hobbies and interests are available on audiotape and videotape, and current technology lets computers scan text and read aloud.

The reading demands of some daily activities can also be reduced with new routines or strategies. For example, taking recognizable product logos to the grocery store instead of a written shopping list.

Some At-Home Treatment Ideas

Treatment often helps survivors with dyslexia. Many speech-language pathologists are trained to diagnose acquired dyslexia and can recommend treatment or home-practice strategies appropriate for each person’s unique pattern of dyslexia. However, the process of reading recovery is complex and largely depends on the location and severity of the stroke.

The following suggestions may help survivors with reading difficulties:
“Sounding out” letters. Individual letters or letter combinations such as B or CH can be presented and the survivor asked to say the corresponding sound. In this exercise it is not correct to provide letter NAMES. The sound should be produced. For instance, the letter “S” makes the “sssssss” sound.
Begin with a small set of letters to sound out, and add more letters gradually over many practice sessions until the survivor can sound out all the letters of the alphabet plus SH, CH, PH and TH. This approach works because many English words can be read correctly by sounding out the letters and then blending the sounds to make a word. For some survivors, learning to sound out even the first letter of a word can assist word retrieval during reading.
Naming Letters. Some survivors are able to pronounce words that are spelled aloud to them. For example, they are able to say the whole word “boat” if someone first spells it aloud – B-O-A-T. These individuals may learn to spell words aloud to themselves by naming each letter.

Although some people begin using this strategy on their own, it eludes others who have difficulty saying the letter names. These people may benefit by practicing saying the letter names. This may eventually help them spell written words aloud. Although this is a slow process, it is one way to achieve some functional reading. Survivors who are already using this strategy may be able to increase their reading speed by reading a paragraph over and over.

Recognizing and/or understanding whole words. Some survivors have particular difficulty reading whole words that cannot be sounded out, such as “yacht” or “island.” For these people, pairing a written word with the corresponding picture may help them recognize the word and understand its meaning.

Several ways survivors can learn to pair written words with their meanings:
Read magazine or newspaper headlines and look at the associated pictures.
Surf the Internet for Web pages where words and pictures are paired.
Watch television with written words on the bottom of the screen.
Listen to an audiotape while looking at the corresponding written words.
Note that these tasks require only silent reading, not reading aloud.

Focusing visual attention. Some people with acquired dyslexia have difficulty reading sentences or paragraphs because they can’t focus their visual attention on one word at a time. Visual distraction can be reduced by cutting a “window” in a piece of paper and then moving the window along a line of text so that is can be read one word at a time.

These strategies and exercises can help survivors with dyslexia improve their reading ability. There is ongoing research into acquired dyslexia, and speech-language pathologists will use this research to develop new treatments for improving the ability to read after stroke.

HOW TO BUY GASOLINE

2008-03-07T17:02:00.003-07:00

By Author unknown--received via email

This article sounded really neat and has some great information. I think this information is actually worth passing on. Hope it helps.

"TIPS ON PUMPING GAS I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon..

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose , CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons. Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps. When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to afast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three(3)stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping onlow speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping onthe fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money. DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor. An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis. Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-upthe tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, myfamily, and my friends. I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companiesare the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:
Shell........................... 205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco......... 144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil............... 130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels Amoco.............................62,231,000 barrels

If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18BILLION! (oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel)

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil: Sunoco..................0 barrels
Conoco...................0 barrels
Sinclair.................0 barrels
B P/Phillips............0 barrels
Hess.......................0 barrels
ARC0.....................0 barrels
If you go to Sunoco.com, you will get a list of the station locations near you.

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy andeach is required to state where they get their oil and how much they areimporting.

American Stroke Association Free Brochures

2008-03-03T15:40:00.003-07:00

The American Stroke Association has many brochure that clearly explains the differences between the effects of left- and right-brain injuries on behavior. Their brochures provide valuable information on common, identifiable changes, including those related to memory, learning and quality control.

If you would like please go to their main web site and request the brochures, you would like to receive. All you have to do is simply fill out a request form. You may order one each of their brochures up to 10 of them. They are free of charge.

STROKE CONNECTION HELPS

2008-03-03T15:21:00.003-07:00

By Rev Ray Southerland

Those of you who maybe seeking current information regarding Strokes. The Stroke Connection magazine brings information and inspiration right to your mailbox. From in-depth information on conditions such as aphasia, central pain, high blood pressure and depression, to tips for daily living from Health Care professionals and other stroke survivors. This magazine, Stroke Connection, keeps you abreast of how to cope, how to reduce your risk of stroke, and how to make the most of each day. The best part of all this is that this magazine is free just go to the main site of the Stroke Association and order the magizine.

SHOULDER EXERCIESES FOR EVERYONE

2007-10-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

Before my strokes I loved exercising. Now not just curling my left arm at meal time or when having a cool refreshing drink, but real get down dirty with sweat exercises. For me I always thought if you kept in shape and didn't drink or smoke you were home free in never having a stroke. Well I was wrong. Strokes hit the out of shape blob and the athelete in prime condition.

I want to pass on, to you, some simple exercises you can do in 15 minutes about 3 times per week. These exercises are designed to strengthen your shoulders and arms.

Progressive Resistive Exercises Flexion (standing)

pick up a weight that is fairly light, remember this isn't designed to make you a weight lifter, so you don't have to struggle with the weights. Begin by lifting or raising your arm out in front of your body. Now left that arm (holding the light weight) toward the ceiling. Remember to keep your elbow straight.

Repeat about 5 times and try to do 10 sessions per day.

AGAIN: These exercises are not necessarily meant to build muscles but to strenghten your shoulders and arms.

Progressive Resistive Exercises Extensions (standing)

Now with that light weight in you hands, try lefting the weight backwards while keeping your elbow(s) straight.

The next exercise is called the Progressive Resistive Exercises: Abduction (standing)

With light weights in your hands raise your arms out from you body
like in the first exercise try doing this 5 times and work up to 10 sessions per day.

Now if you are under doctor's care, because of your health, check with him or her to make sure these exercises are safe for you. Good luck!!!

SOME HEALING EXERCISES

2007-10-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Exercising is always important. Yet after ones stroke exercises become even more important. The reason being you force yourself to heal to get back on your feet (so to speak) and return to as norml life you can. Even when you don't feel like exercising do it anyway. In the long run of your recovery you will be stronger and feel much better.

HIP FLEXION AND EXTENSION--Begin on hans and knees. Move tight then your left knee to chest. Straighten your leg you are moving and hold at least 5 counts. Repeat this process for each leg about 10 to 15 times.

HIP EXTENSION--Lie on you back and rotate you right and left legs by raising and bending your right or left knee while lifting you knee into the air keep you foot to the leg you are exercising with flat on the met. then lift youself off mat. keep the opposite let straight. Lift your hips up and down at least 10 to 15 times.

HIP ABDUCTION--Lie on either you left or right side with bottom knee bent. Raise top leg. Keep knee straigh and toes pointed forward. Do not let top hip roo backward. Hold leg you are excising in air up to 5 counts. Repeat by rotating each leg 10 to 15 times.

MANAGING YOUR RISK FACTORS

2007-10-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

As we mature in life we come to understand that we are the responsible party in reducing those things that may continue giving us problems. So in order to correctly manage your stroke risk factors you must first identify which risk factor applies to you, and then take steps to get rid of or reduce them. One risk factor may be you smoke and your smoking, if it hasn't already, will lead to stroke.

If you are in the hospital at present time it may be easier to quit. So it is a good idea to ask your doctor or the nurse attending to you on ways to stop smoking. Also improving ones eating habits is a sure fire way to become healtier and conquer the possibility of another stroke. If you depend on someone else in doing the shopping it may be a good idea to shop along and while you are pushing the cart read the labels for fatand cholesterol content. There are many good diet plans availble to you in becoming healtier. Therefore the next doctors visit ask for your primary care's help they are more than willing to assist you in eating better. Eating properly and the correct portions are very important.

Remember keeping healthy is very critical in your recovery of a stroke. Therefore get the sleep and rest your body needs and this may mean taking a short nap in the afternoon, going to bed at night at a resonable time and receiving at least eight hours of sleep, and not over exerting oneself in play, work, or visiting friends.

When I had my first major stroke I could not eat or drink anything. One of my vocal cords was and still is parellized. Because of this the one healthy one had to over compensate for the parellized vocal cord. During this time period I had to resort to drinking my food very slowly and this took time. So if you need to drink thickened liquieds or eat semisolid foods until your are able to eat or chew normally don't become discouraged for many people have walked that mile so call upon that moral support that is available to you.

Another way to manage your risk factors is by developing a exercise program that fits your life style. This for me was easy even though I was many hundreds of miles away from home I still had to develop an exercise program that fit me when I finally came home. I was lucky because being a pastor of a church I had many family, friends, and neigbors that were willing to step in and help. One area was taking my dogs for a walk everyday. By the time I finally came home my dogs were regemented to these walks so I was forced to daily walk with these little friends of mine. Over time I learned how to walk and presently I am walking approximately two miles everyday.

RISK FACTORS REGARDING STROKES

2007-10-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

The following are some risk factors for having a stroke:

High Blood Pressure
Prior Stroke or TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)
Cigarette Smoking
Age (unlimited you can be young or old)
Heart Disease
Family History of Heart Disease or Strokes
Diabetes
Sickle Cell Anemia
High Cholesterol

African Americans are at twise the risk of having a stroke than any other race or nationality.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT STROKES

2007-10-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

You have come to this site because you or your loved one just had a stroke and you feel alone in your world. The medical professionals can't answer all your questions or they talk so far above your head that you can't make heads or tails out of what they are saying. Yes you are doing the right thing by researching this subject. Now over the next few weeks or months you will find much general information about strokes. You may even hear friends, neighbors, relatives tell you all kinds of so called facts about strokes. You will even hear stories about stroke survivors returning to their normal life style in just a few days. All this information will put black clouds over you head and you may feel there is something wrong with you or your loved one for not healing so quickly. Don't worry many of us have gone through the same tunnel of confusion as you are going through right now. If you are blessed in recovering quickly after only a few days in the hospital all I can say is be thankful. Most of us have a very long recovery (about two to three years). Long time right!

A stroke is very serious for it is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of brain injury in adults (ages 21--110). Did you know that every year approximately 500,00 Americans suffer a new or repeated stroke. I've had 3 strokes so far in less than one after I had my first major stroke in 2005. It doesn't matter weather you don't drink, (I am a very fundamental pastor), smoke or drink heavily, fat or sknny, a couch patatoe, or someone very involved in work or community projects, or you don't participate in physical exercise. Exercise I must say, is very important not only prior to ones stroke but throughout ones recovery.

You can't rush your recovery, your body is in charge now. Your body will dictate how much you will recover. A stroke isn't an occupational injury, vehicular accident, a cold or flu, so don't let anyone convince you otherwise. You follow your doctors advise and recommendations work hard in rehabilitation and you will see light at the end of the two to three year tunnel.