How can strokes be prevented?

Our beautiful brain hosts millions of cells, however, every minute that our brain goes without proper blood flow, 1.9 million brain cells die. This statistic is incredibly significant and brings home the importance of quick action when stroke symptoms appear. In this episode, I’m thrilled to have two exceptional guests from Medical City Lewisville, a top-notch hospital I can personally vouch for. Both guests are dedicated to stroke care and prevention:

1. Miranda Bik-Williams: A registered nurse and certified case manager with seven years at Medical City Lewisville, now serving as the stroke coordinator.
2. Holli Thornhill: Also a registered nurse and the Director for Quality Resources with 19 years of nursing experience, 14 of which have been at Medical City Lewisville. Holly has seen the effects of stroke firsthand and is a staunch advocate for preventive medicine.

Recognizing Stroke Symptoms: BE FAST

One of the best ways to remember the signs of a stroke is with the acronym “BE FAST”:

1. Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
2. Eyes: Vision loss or blurred vision
3. Face: Facial weakness or paralysis
4. Arms: Inability to lift arms or a drifting arm
5. Speech: Slurred speech or speaking incoherently
6. Time: Time to call 911 immediately at the first signs

When I hear how quickly brain cells die during a stroke, it underscores the need to call 911 immediately. Time is of the essence to save a life and prevent severe brain damage.

Causes and Risk Factors for Stroke

There are several causes and risk factors for strokes, many of which are preventable:

1. High blood pressure: The top risk factor.
2. Smoking: Nicotine constricts blood vessels.
3. Diabetes: Increases risk.
4. Diet: High cholesterol and fat intake contribute.
5. Physical inactivity: Leads to other contributing factors like obesity.
6. Underlying conditions: Atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea, peripheral artery disease, etc.

The Immediate Response to a Stroke

When 911 is called, EMS providers start treatment en route to the hospital, ensuring that vital, life-saving measures are begun even before arrival. This can make a significant difference in outcomes.

Quick hospital interventions include the administration of clot-busting medications, which must be given within a specific time frame and other procedures to physically remove clots. Knowing your last time of feeling normal is crucial to receive the appropriate treatment.

Understanding TIAs: A Warning Sign

Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) or “mini-strokes” are significant warning signs. They should be treated with the same urgency as strokes. It’s critical to recognize them as yellow lights indicating a potential future stroke.

Prevention: Manage What You Can Control

Key factors:

1. Hypertension: Get it under control.
2. Diabetes: Manage blood sugar levels.
3. Quit Smoking: Reduces stroke risk.
4. Diet and Exercise: Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
5. Know Your Numbers: Cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

The Impact of a Stroke and Recovery

Strokes create pathways for new neural pathways through rigorous and immediate rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Mark's journey highlighted the essential role rehab played in his recovery, and I’m thankful for the excellent rehab centers in the Dallas area.

1. Be FAST: Every minute without proper blood flow results in the death of approximately 1.9 million brain cells, emphasizing the need to call 911 immediately when stroke symptoms are present.
2. High blood pressure,...

How can I cope when I’m grieving someone who is still alive?

You always hear about grief when someone has died – but what about if they’re still alive?

This is a scenario commonly experienced when a loved one suffers an accident or stroke, or has been given a life-changing diagnosis such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. You grieve who they were and the life you once had. The 5 stages of grief are the same as if someone died: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

For me, I was accustomed to counseling people whose loved one’s life changed – but living on the other side of it has been quite different. In this episode, I'll be sharing my experience with these stages in the months after my husband had a stroke on Christmas.

Instead of “checking” each stage off the list, I've cycled through some stages multiple times, with them lessening in intensity over time. I've even found myself missing the little things, like my husband’s quirks and “annoying” habits.

To manage grief, she suggests 3 tips:

1. Let it out: Talk to a therapist or trusted friend / family member. Scream in the car if you need to, or journal your feelings. Just don’t keep the feelings trapped inside.

2. Don’t get stuck: It’s okay to spend time in each stage of grief. The problem is when you can’t move past a stage and your body hangs on to the emotions. It’s not good for you. Life will look different moving forward, but you can’t dwell on the past and what “should have been.”

3. Find support: There are many support groups online, like on Facebook, along with resources such as the Alzheimer’s Association. Find what works best for you because you can’t do it alone. You’ll discover many people are living your same experiences.

It’s also important to remember you have to take care of yourself. Whether that’s a massage or taking a daily walk, find a way to give back to yourself and take a break. Plus, give yourself grace if you need additional support. You have to do what’s best and safest for all involved, and it’s okay to ask for help.

To manage grief, here are my 3 tips:

1. Let it out: Talk to a therapist or trusted friend / family member. Scream in the car if you need to, or journal your feelings. Just don’t keep the feelings trapped inside.

2. Don’t get stuck: It’s okay to spend time in each stage of grief. The problem is when you can’t move past a stage and your body hangs on to the emotions. It’s not good for you. Life will look different moving forward, but you can’t dwell on the past and what “should have been.”

3. Find support: There are many support groups online, like on Facebook, along with resources such as the Alzheimer’s Association. Find what works best for you because you can’t do it alone. You’ll discover many people are living your same experiences.

It’s also important to remember you have to take care of yourself. Whether that’s a massage or taking a daily walk, find a way to give back to yourself and take a break. Plus, give yourself grace if you need additional support. You have to do what’s best and safest for all involved, and it’s okay to ask for help.

Topics discussed:

1. The 5 stages of grief
2. Alzheimer’s
3. Parkinson’s
4. Dementia
5. Strokes
6. Traumatic brain injuries
7. Caregiver support
8. Coping with grief
9. Journaling
10. Self-care

Takeaways from this episode:

1. It’s okay to grieve when a loved one’s life has changed for the worst. Give yourself time and grace to feel everything. Just make sure you’re processing those feelings so you don’t get stuck.
2. You may not experience each stage of grief only

When talking to other caregivers, I found a striking similarity: Many of us felt ill-equipped after our loved ones were discharged from rehab. After my husband suffered a stroke on Christmas Day in 2022, I learned firsthand what many of my clients experience each day. Once he was released from rehab, I was given my husband’s medicine, told to install grab bars in the shower for safety, add a shower chair, and was sent on my way. My well-intentioned friends also advised me to make time for myself and to exercise. Easier said than done! When a loved one’s needs are significant, caregivers become overwhelmed and burnt out. Meeting our own needs feels less urgent and maybe even impossible.

The reality? I (and many caregivers) need a different type of support: realistic solutions for protecting our energy.

Here are my 6 tips for caregivers having a tough time:

1. Make sure you have knowledge of helpful resources to ease your burden. Examples include meal delivery services, tele-health visits, medication delivery, and more.
2. Establish a routine. This helps you stay on target and keeps you organized. This is especially important when administering medication is involved.
3. Get dependable help. Whether that’s a family member or a professional, it can better help you tend to your own needs (and those of your other family members).
4. Find respite in an overnight (or longer) break. Maybe your loved one has a respite stay with an assisted living facility so you can get a full night’s rest. Maybe you take a weekend off while your other loved ones pitch in.
5. Work out a flexible plan with your employer. They may allow you to work from home or offer employee assistance.
6. Rely on your friends and family. Maybe it’s for venting or reinforcements, but you can’t do this alone. Let them be there for you.

Topics discussed:

1. Caregiver burnout
2. How to support caregivers
3. Caregiver resources
4. Social Security Disability
5. Respite
6. Employee assistance
7. Professional caregivers

Takeaways from this episode:

- Burnout can look like many things. Maybe you’re exhausted, scatterbrained, stressed, or crying more than usual. This is a sign to find support.

- Allsup is a service that can help people get Social Security Disability (SSDI). When people file on their own, it can take years for approval. Using a service like this tends to have a higher success rate.

- Know your own limits. There’s no shame in hiring help, especially if it promotes safety for your loved one.

- There are many resources for the time-pressed caregiver: meal delivery, medication delivery, tele-health, home health and more.

To suggest a topic, be a guest or support the podcast, please email Lori@Loriwilliams-seniorservices.com

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