Life After Stroke: The Guide to Recovering Your Health and Preventing Another Stroke

by Joel Stein MD, Julie K. Silver MD, Elizabeth Pegg Frates MD

Overview

In this compassionate guide, three expert physicians who treat people with stroke describe how to navigate the path to recovery. Their practical advice on treatment, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes is also designed to help prevent another stroke.

Drs. Stein, Silver, and Frates begin by explaining how stroke occurs and what happens when different parts of the brain are injured. They describe diagnostic tools such as CT scans and MRIs as well as medications used to prevent and treat stroke, and they explain in detail how stroke survivors can heal optimally. They also set out plans to help survivors reduce the risk of another stroke, including the Stroke Savvy Exercise Plan and Stroke Savvy Diet Plan.

Relating patients' experiences and bringing readers up to date on promising new treatments, Life After Stroke offers hope to stroke survivors and their families.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801883637
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	05/22/2006
Series:	A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joel Stein, M.D., is the chief medical officer at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. Julie Silver, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. She is also a medical director at the Spaulding-Framingham outpatient center. Elizabeth Pegg Frates, M.D., is a clinical instructor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Part I: Understanding Stroke
Chapter 1. Understanding Stroke and Its Consequences
Chapter 2. How Strokes Affect Our Brains and Bodies
Chapter 3. Tests Your Doctor May Order
Part II: Stroke Recovery
Chapter 4. Minimizing Early Post-Stroke Disability and Complications
Chapter 5. Maximizing Recovery from a Stroke
Chapter 6. Post-Stroke Medical and Social Issues
Part III: Preventing Stroke: Medical Issues
Chapter 7. Risk Factors for Having a Stroke: An Introduction
Chapter 8. Heart and Blood Vessel Conditions and Stroke
Chapter 9. High Blood Pressure and Stroke
Chapter 10. Diabetes and Stroke
Chapter 11. Other Causes of Stroke
Chapter 12. Genetics and Stroke
Chapter 13. Medications That Help Prevent Stroke
Chapter 14. When Surgery Is an Option
Part IV: Preventing Stroke: Lifestyle Issues
Chapter 15. Diet and Stroke
Chapter 16. Exercise and Stroke
Chapter 17. How Smoking, Alcohol, and Illegal Drugs Affect Stroke Risk
Part V: Looking to the Future
Chapter 18. Research on the Horizon
Chapter 19. Prevent Another Stroke by Taking Charge
Resources
Notes
Index

What People are Saying About This

Robert J. Wityk

This book may help you navigate the sometimes confusing corridors of medicine to empower you to take control of your health or that of your loved one. Read it and learn, and then discuss it with your physician. Between your involved interest, what you discover here, and your doctor's expertise, your or your loved one's recovery lies in very good hands indeed.

From the Publisher

This book may help you navigate the sometimes confusing corridors of medicine to empower you to take control of your health or that of your loved one. Read it and learn, and then discuss it with your physician. Between your involved interest, what you discover here, and your doctor's expertise, your or your loved one's recovery lies in very good hands indeed.
—Robert J. Wityk, M.D., from the foreword

Editorial Reviews

The book explains the importance of understanding the differences among strokes, and offers advice on treatment, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes that will help prevent a reoccurrence.

Boston Globe - Susan Chaityn Lebovits

An invaluable resource for survivors and their families.

AAP Newsletter

Designed to help readers understand what causes stroke and how it impacts survivors and their families.

M.D. News

Very readable and engaging . . . a good reference source for nonprofessionals

PsycCRITIQUES - Victor A. Colotla

Unique in its focus.

The Sharon Advocate

"A book about strokes might seem tiresome, but Life After Stroke has a heart and soul of its own... an excellent tool for nurses who work with stroke patients."

Nursing Spectrum - Terry Ratner

"Compassionate guide."

Stroke Connection Magazine

"Case history experiences blend with tips and discussions and of the latest and possibly forthcoming new treatments, offering families and survivors a positive survey."

Midwest Book Review

"Clear, concise, and a joy to read because it's easy to understand. More importantly, it could save your life."

Baltimore Sun - Mary Beth Regan

Reviewer: Florence A Denby, MS (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)
Description: This book provides a comprehensive tool for stroke survivors and their families for understanding stroke etiology, reasons for post-stroke testing, and how to get the most from recovery. Throughout the book, the authors chronicle fascinating accounts of historical figures as well as everyday people who have experienced stroke as they relate to the medical consequences and recovery.
Purpose: This is an attempt to supply people with stroke and their loved ones with the information about what to expect during the rehabilitation process and how to maximize it. More accurate than stroke is the term brain attack, defined as a sudden event causing damage to the brain that with early treatment can be reversed or the progression stopped. The book's substance is captured in the description of a complicated disease with numerous etiologies/comorbidities and the well written explanation of stroke rehabilitation as a multidiscipline process. The book meets its noble objectives for use as a consumer resource in conjunction with the physician and members of the rehabilitation team.
Audience: Although the authors intend this book for people with stroke and their loved ones, in my experience, many stroke survivors would have a difficult time comprehending this material because of the medical terminology and jargon. However, the vignettes, practical examples, drawings, and tables scattered throughout the book provide in-depth information that can be easily understood. The authors are experienced practitioners who have collaborated with stroke and rehabilitation specialists in the thoughtful development of a fine book.
Features: This is a comprehensive overview of what a stroke is, what happens during the initial recovery, and how stroke survivors can make the most of their rehabilitation process and continue to recover throughout their lifetime. Giving consumers knowledge of what possibly caused their stroke empowers them to take necessary precautions for secondary prevention and also allows greater control of modifiable risk factors and outcomes. The chapter on heart and blood vessels and stroke is an excellent teaching tool, especially the party analogy describing what causes hardening of the arteries. The chapter on exercise and stroke addresses the needs of stroke survivors at different levels of functioning whether severe, moderate, mild, and/or without residual functioning problems.
Assessment: It is difficult to write a book for all stroke survivors and their families because of the diversity of the population. This book is an excellent resource for people with stroke, their loved ones, and any one interested in stroke recovery and prevention. Healthcare providers, allied health professionals, and nurses would benefit from this comprehensive tutorial study of stroke prevention and recovery. This offers an excellent source to reference when explaining to patients the nature of their injury and their own role in recovery.

Doody's Review Service

Clear, concise and a joy to read because it's easy to understand. More importantly, it could save your life.
—Mary Beth Regan, Baltimore Sun

The book explains the importance of understanding the differences among strokes, and offers advice on treatment, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes that will help prevent a reoccurrence.
—Susan Chaityn Lebovits, Boston Globe

Designed to help readers understand what causes stroke and how it impacts survivors and their families.
—M.D. News

Case history experiences blend with tips and discussions and of the latest and possibly forthcoming new treatments, offering families and survivors a positive survey.
—Midwest Book Review

Compassionate guide.
—Stroke Connection Magazine

An excellent resource for people with stroke, their loved ones, and any one interested in stroke recovery and prevention.
—Forence A. Denby, MS, Doody's Review Service (3 stars)

A book about strokes might seem tiresome, but Life After Stroke has a heart and soul of its own . . . an excellent tool for nurses who work with stroke patients.
—Terry Ratner, RN, MFA, Nursing Spectrum

Very readable and engaging . . . a good reference source for nonprofessionals
—Victor A. Colotla, PsycCRITIQUES

Unique in its focus.
—The Sharon Advocate

Clear, concise, and a joy to read because it's easy to understand. More importantly, it could save your life.
—Mary Beth Regan, The Sun Archive

An invaluable resource for survivors and their families.
—AAP Newsletter

From the Publisher

Clear, concise, and a joy to read because it's easy to understand. More importantly, it could save your life.

— Mary Beth Regan

The Sun Archive

A book about strokes might seem tiresome, but Life After Stroke has a heart and soul of its own... an excellent tool for nurses who work with stroke patients.

— Terry Ratner, RN, MFA

Nursing Spectrum

Very readable and engaging... a good reference source for nonprofessionals

— Victor A. Colotla

PsycCRITIQUES

Clear, concise and a joy to read because it's easy to understand. More importantly, it could save your life.

— Mary Beth Regan

Baltimore Sun

The book explains the importance of understanding the differences among strokes, and offers advice on treatment, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes that will help prevent a reoccurrence.

— Susan Chaityn Lebovits

Boston Globe

★ 10/01/2013
Primarily a guide to stroke recovery and to medical and lifestyle preventions, this reference also offers an introduction to strokes, their impact on the brain, and related medical tests.

Library Journal