Nutrition for patients after stroke

Patients after stroke are seriously affected in terms of health. In addition to treatment regimens and physical therapy, nutrition for people after a stroke is extremely important. Food helps patients to quickly recover health, reduce the risk of reduced resistance and lifelong disability.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term damage, disability and death. In the United States, about 750,000 strokes occur each year. During a stroke, one or more areas of the brain may be damaged. Depending on the area affected, the person may lose the ability to move one side of the body, speak or some other functions. These lesions can be temporary or permanent.
Early treatment and prevention measures can reduce brain damage from stroke. Treatment for a stroke depends on the type of stroke (eg ischemic or hemorrhagic), the time since stroke symptoms first occurred, and the patient's underlying medical problems.
Of these, hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain leak or burst, causing bleeding in or around the brain. About 20% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes. Bleeding around the brain known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is usually caused by the rupture of an abnormal blood vessel (aneurysm) on the surface of the brain. Bleeding into the brain is called an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and is usually caused by high blood pressure.

After a stroke, some patients find it difficult to consume enough calories. In many cases, the patient was underweight or malnourished before the stroke. These problems can hinder recovery from a stroke, increasing the risk of long-term disability.
For these reasons, the patient's nutritional status should be assessed prior to discharge. This includes a review of the patient's past and current body weight, a basic history of the patient's eating habits, blood tests, and a physical exam focusing on the condition of the eyes and hair. , skin, mouth and muscles.
If a person cannot consume enough calories, a feeding tube may be placed through the nose and into the stomach (called a nasogastric tube). If a feeding tube is needed for more than two to three weeks, a tube can be inserted through the abdomen into the stomach (called a percutaneous endoscopic nasogastric tube [PEG]). The PEG tube may be removed if the patient regains the ability to eat and drink normally.
So after being able to eat normally, what should the patient eat to recover soon?
Accordingly, the food groups that help people with stroke recover quickly include:

Prioritize eating fish
Possessing many important nutritional components, bringing many health benefits, fish is foods are recommended for post-stroke patients. The typical components found in fish include: Phosphorus, unsaturated fatty acids, good cholesterol... According to experts, these substances help to destroy the atheroma plaques attached to the blood vessel walls - agents.
1 cause of stroke.
Patients should eat fish such as: Salmon, mackerel, tuna, freshwater fish, ...
Eat vegetables high in fiber
Green vegetables, fruits are indispensable foods in the diet. nutrition for stroke patients. In green vegetables, there is a full amount of fiber needed by the body. Fruits have vitamin components with antioxidants, reduce cholesterol,... As a result, these foods help eliminate free radicals, contributing to improving atherosclerosis.
Some green vegetables and fruits are recommended by doctors to consume such as: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, raspberries, apples, oranges,...
Certain types of milk
The following patient stroke has very weak health. Therefore, fortification from milk and alternatives is extremely important. The patient's body will quickly recover and improve other symptoms. Specifically:
Low-fat milk: It has a calcium-enhancing effect and does not cause obesity. As a result, patients will reduce bad cholesterol, effectively lower blood pressure, and help prevent accidents. Organic cow's milk plays a role in preventing high blood pressure due to its high potassium content. In particular, this is a milk high in omega 3 that helps support heart health. Rice milk plays a role in reducing bad cholesterol in the blood thanks to its high carbohydrate content. Unsweetened soy milk is low-fat, plant-based milk. Yogurt is a product derived from milk, which helps to lose weight, suitable for obese people who have a stroke.

Patients after a stroke may experience many complications such as: Foot ulcers, high risk of falling. Here are some other care measures for stroke patients.
● The patient should be placed at a 30 degree angle when lying on their side to avoid direct pressure on the hip bone (greater trochanter).
● It may be necessary to place a pillow or foam pad between the ankle and knee to avoid pressure at these locations.
The heel part needs special attention. Knees can be placed under the shins to elevate the heels, or special heel protectors can be used.
● Should limit the height of the headboard.
● To reduce the risk of falls, patients should be instructed in exercises that strengthen muscles and restore balance.
● Fall risk assessment: An assessment may be recommended to determine if a person is at risk of falling. If there is a risk of falling, the patient may be taught to walk and balance to reduce the risk.
● Indoor hazards such as poor lighting or loose carpeting can increase the risk of falls. Therefore, the patient's family should remove loose mats, electrical cords, or other items that could lead to tripping, slipping, and falling; ensure that there is sufficient light in all areas inside and around the house (including stairs and entrances); avoid walking on wet floors or other potentially slippery glossy floors...
With the above information, hopefully family members as well as stroke patients have had basic knowledge about nutrition for people after a stroke as well as other special care measures. As a result, stroke patients will recover quickly and reduce the risk of complications.
Currently, Magnetic Resonance Imaging - MRI/MRA is considered a "golden" tool for brain stroke screening. MRI is used to check the condition of most organs in the body, especially valuable in detailed imaging of the brain or spinal nerves. Due to the good contrast and resolution, MRI images allow to detect abnormalities hidden behind bone layers that are difficult to recognize with other imaging methods. MRI can give more accurate results than X-ray techniques (except for DSA angiography) in diagnosing brain diseases, cardiovascular diseases, strokes,... Moreover, the process MRI scans do not cause side effects like X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans.\
Vinmec International General Hospital currently owns a 3.0 Tesla MRI system equipped with state-of-the-art equipment by GE. Healthcare (USA) with high image quality, allows comprehensive assessment, does not miss the injury but reduces the time taken to take pictures. Silent technology helps to reduce noise, create comfort and reduce stress for the client during the shooting process, resulting in better image quality and shorter imaging time. With the state-of-the-art MRI system With the application of modern methods of cerebral vascular intervention, a team of experienced and well-trained neurologists and radiologists, Vinmec is a prestigious address for stroke risk screening and screening. reliable goods.
In the past time; Vinmec has successfully treated many cases of stroke in a timely manner, leaving no sequelae: saving the life of a patient suffering from 2 consecutive strokes; Responding to foreign female tourists to escape the "death door" of a stroke;...

Reference source: update.com