Blog Dedication

This blog is dedicated to my Mom - Joey van der Walt.

Mom had a stroke on the 20th December 2014 and as the picture below states "It is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so very deeply".

I am going to Blog on all that is, going to be and to look out for as you are about to journey in the life of a loved one with a Brain Injury - Stroke! This is going to be a difficult and possibly a lonely path for you to walk and I hope the information that I am about to share with you will help with your own way forward.

Heart Palpitations

Heart Palpitations

Heart Palpitations

·     Causes of Heart Palpitations
·    Assessment of Heart Palpitations 
·   Treatment of Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations are a feeling that your heart is beating too hard or too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may notice heart palpitations in your chest, throat, or neck.

Heart palpitations can be bothersome or frightening. They usually aren't serious or harmful, though, and often go away on their own. Most of the time, they're related to stress and anxiety or to consumption of stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol. Palpitations also often occur during pregnancy.

In rare cases, palpitations can be a sign of a more serious heart condition. Therefore, if you have heart palpitations, make arrangements to see your doctor. And seek immediate medical attention if along with palpitations, you experience shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, or fainting.

After taking your medical history and conducting a physical exam, your doctor may order tests that can either confirm or rule out an underlying cause. If an underlying cause is found, the right treatment can reduce or eliminate palpitations. If your palpitations are not related to an underlying cause, lifestyle changes, including stress management and the avoidance of common triggers, can help prevent them.

Causes of Heart Palpitations

Many things can cause heart palpitations. In the vast majority of cases, the cause is either related to your heart or is unknown. Non-heart-related causes of palpitations include:

·         Strong emotions such as anxiety, fear, or stress; palpitations often occur during panic attacks.

·         Vigorous physical activity

·         Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or illegal street drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines

·         Medical conditions, including thyroid disease, a low blood sugar level, anemia, low blood pressure, fever, and dehydration

·         Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or the perimenopausal period; sometimes, palpitations during pregnancy are signs of anemia.

·         Medications, including diet pills, decongestants, asthma inhalers, and some drugs used to prevent arrhythmias (a serious heart rhythm problem) or treat an under active thyroid

·         Certain herbal and nutritional supplements

·         Abnormal electrolyte levels

Some people experience palpitations after eating heavy meals that are rich in carbohydrates, sugar, or fat. Sometimes, eating foods with high levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates, or sodium can bring them on.

If you have heart palpitations after eating certain foods, the problem could be food sensitivity. Keeping a food diary can help you identify which foods to avoid.

Blood Pressure

Vaccine's for stroke patients

Vaccinations for Winter

Pneumonia Vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine prevents serious blood, brain, and lung infections from the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Such infections are called pneumococcal disease -- they also include pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia.
Pneumococcal disease is a serious health threat that can lead to death. Many strains of Streptococcus pneumonia are resistant to antibiotics. Infection with the bacteria is a leading cause of serious illness in adults and children worldwide. In the U.S. alone, more people die from pneumococcal disease each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease. There are two different types of pneumococcal vaccine. One that protects adults against 23 strains of Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria is called pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), and it is marketed under the brand name Pneumovax. PPSV23 is made using dead bacteria. The dead germs cannot make you sick.
The other is pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV13 (brand name Prevnar 13), which is routinely given to infants and toddlers, but was approved by the FDA in 2011 for use in adults ages 50 and older.

Pneumonia Vaccine must be administered every 5 years.

Flu Vaccine

How effective is the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu this season. If you get the flu vaccine, you are 60% less likely to need treatment for the flu by a healthcare provider. Getting the vaccine has been shown to offer substantial other benefits including reducing illness, antibiotic use, time lost from work, hospitalizations, and deaths. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

When should I get the vaccine?
Get the vaccine as soon as it is available in your area. Early immunization is the most effective, but it is never too late.

Stroke Recovery

When should stroke rehabilitation begin?

The sooner you begin stroke rehabilitation, the more likely you are to regain lost abilities and skills. However, your doctors' first priority is to stabilize your medical condition and control life-threatening conditions. They also take measures to prevent another stroke and limit any stroke-related complications.

It's common for stroke rehabilitation to start as soon 24 to 48 hours after your stroke, during your acute hospital stay. If your medical problems continue for longer, your doctors may wait to begin your rehabilitation.

Stroke Recovery

Stroke affects everybody differently. Many stroke survivors continue to improve over a long time, sometimes over a number of years. Recovery from stroke involves making changes in the physical, social and, emotional aspects of your life. You will make changes to prevent additional strokes as well as to facilitate your life-long recovery. It is normal to feel angry, anxious or depressed after a stroke. You may feel worried about work, money and relationships, and the tiredness caused by stroke can make things worse.

Rehabilitation is about getting back to normal life and living as independent a life as possible. It involves taking an active approach to ensure that your life goes on. This can mean learning new skills or relearning old ones. It may involve adapting to new limitations and post-stroke conditions. Or it can mean finding new social, emotional, and practical support to live your best life post-stroke.

With good care and rehabilitation, there is life after stroke.

First Steps to Recovery

Treatment following a stroke usually begins with care in a hospital, called acute care. During that time you are stabilized, assessed, and a treatment plan will be developed for your recovery. An important part of the road to recovery is your return to community living after leaving the hospital. Some of you will spend time in a rehabilitation center before returning home, but many stroke survivors return directly home following their time in the hospital.

As you start on your journey to recovery it is important to maintain your safety, seek rehabilitation services and immediately reduce your risk of having another stroke.

Safety after Stroke

Moving around safely and easily is not something you may think about, until you have had a stroke. Many areas of your life will be impacted and adaptations will need to be made to be safer. For example your home can be safer by modifying your home environment to prevent accidents as you move around the house or apartment. There are many different ways to accommodate your life after stroke that will depend on your strength, ability, judgment, and support.

Home Safety

• Clear paths to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom
• Wear nonskid shoes and avoid slick surfaces
• Remove loose carpets and runners in hallways and stairwells, or fasten them with nonskid tape to improve traction
• Install handrails for support in going up and down stairs

And most importantly, be on the safe side and don’t take chances. Listen to the advice of healthcare professionals and experienced caregivers. Regaining independence requires patience.