WOW - Happy 2016!!
What a difference a month makes!You've heard the saying SH$T happens?
Yes, it does and it happened to me!
I had a stroke...right side...affected my left!
How Does a Stroke Occur?
There are two types of stroke.
- Ischemic stroke is similar to a heart attack, except it occurs in the blood vessels of the brain. Clots can form in the brain's blood vessels, in blood vessels leading to the brain, or even in blood vessels elsewhere in the body and then travel to the brain. These clots block blood flow to the brain's cells. Ischemic stroke can also occur when too much plaque (fatty deposits and cholesterol) clogs the brain's blood vessels. About 80% of all strokes are ischemic.
- Hemorrhagic (heh-more-raj-ik) strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures. The result is blood seeping into the brain tissue, causing damage to brain cells. The most common causes of hemorrhagic stroke are high blood pressure and brain aneurysms. An aneurysm is a weakness or thinness in the blood vessel wall
My stroke was an Ischemic stroke. I was driving home from spending the morning with some friends at a Facebook business training, My arm felt like it as moving strange but I had no pain. Then as I got closer to home I kept driving into the left lane. I thought "wow, I really need to get my car in for an alignment". Seriously, that's all I thought! Then I took my left hand off the wheel and the car straightened out. Good to go, made it home, couldn't open the car door, I couldn't make my left hand touch the car door handle. WHAT WAS GOING ON? Reached across with my right and made it in the house. Up the stairs to a mirror...did all the stroke things I knew to look at in the mirror. Looked fine I thought, no droop, I could stick my tongue out and smile. Good, back downstairs - the hard way...fell down the stairs, my left leg was not there. Grabbed the cell and called my husband...he came home - asked if we should go to the ER. YES, I said, I was struggling to talk. I stood up, fell backwards in to our coffee table. He said, "maybe we need an ambulance?" I shook my head...I was so blessed that the EMT recognized my symptoms immediately and took me to the best hospital for a stroke. I was in the ER, Ct Scan done and was able to get the "clot buster" miracle drug called 'tPA". That was Monday. Tuesday an MRI showed I had signs of mini strokes - TIA's they call them. REALLY? How did I not know?
So what are the symptoms of a stroke:
What Are the Symptoms of Stroke?
The most common symptoms of a stroke are:
- Weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
- Loss of vision or dimming (like a curtain falling) in one or both eyes
- Loss of speech, difficulty talking, or understanding what others are saying
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
- Loss of balance or unstable walking, usually combined with another symptom
So did I do something that DAY to cause it...NO....like all disease it is a layer of things. I wasn't always healthy. Didn't always workout. Used to not eat well. Was clinically obese. AND smoked. And although I no longer smoke - I struggle with the addiction still. All things that contributed even though right then I was at a good weight, I ate clean, worked out 3-5 days a week. Even my DR was perplexed. Moral of the story. Because I am in much better health now, I am recovering well. I taught an exercise class 8 weeks after! Get your health moved up to PRIORITY level! and know what to do if something like his happens
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Here's my favorite healing SMOOTHIE
1 cup Almond Milk or water
1/2 large green or red apple, chopped (or pear)
1/2 cup packed baby spinach
1 cup plain Greek yogurt ( or scoop of a good clean protein powder)
2 TBS ground flax seeds
1/4 Cup Blueberries (or Pineapple)
1/2 a small to medium Avocado
Ice cubes
Directions
- In a blender, combine milk, apple, spinach and other ingredients (as called for); purée until smooth. Pour into glass; serve immediately.
