After someone suffers from a bleeding stroke or from an intracerebral hemorrhage, it has been common practice to prescribe methods of helping with recovery, such as compression socks, anti-seizure medications, and steroids. However, new research indicates that the efficacy of these commonly used treatments is not as great as once thought.
A team of researchers from the American Heart Association looked at the use of these treatment methods does not necessarily provide protection from blood clotting. In the past, compression socks have been used for this purpose, but current research does not indicate that they provide any benefit. Other treatments, such as the long term use of antidepressants, even increased negative outcomes. Antidepressant use increased the risk of bone fractures in the elderly.
Additionally, this team found that a minimally invasive procedure to address bleeding can help to improve patient outcomes. The use of intermittent pneumatic compression also showed benefits when used instead of compression socks.
They published their findings in the journal, Stroke. Hopefully, this acts as a launching point for future researchers looking to help improve the quality of life that those recovering from stroke experience. Intracerebral hemorrhage accounts for about 10 percent of all strokes, so there is a lot of benefit to be had from pursuing this line of research.
It’s important that you follow your doctor’s advice. If you’ve been advised to use one of these products, this article and the research it’s based on is not enough evidence to just go and stop using them. If you have questions about any of your recommended treatments, please speak with your doctor. It’s never a good idea to stop doing the things that you have been prescribed to do without working closely with a doctor.
Stroke and other events are catastrophic health crises. Not only is it important that you work closely with a doctor, but it’s important to get support in other areas of your life, too. This might mean working with a counselor or therapist as you deal with the emotional struggle of health issues. It might mean getting extra help around the house for yourself or an elderly loved one. Having a caregiver, whether in the form of a family member or a professional, can be a huge blessing to the entire family, especially in the time immediately following a stroke when recovery is the main goal.
We’re here to talk if you’d like to learn more. Oftentimes, our elderly loved ones need a lot of extra support after a major health event, time in the hospital, or after other life changing events. Whether that is short term or long term, having a professional caregiver come to you to provide assistance can be much less disruptive to someone’s life than having to relocate to get that care. In-home care isn’t for everyone, and each situation is a little bit different. But, if you’re looking for assistance to ensure that the people that you care about have the very best help possible, an in-home caregiver might be exactly what you’re looking for. Please feel free to reach out and give us a call if you’d like to get started talking about how care might benefit your family.
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