What is the best way for me to improve my physical well being and memory (after stroke)?
Improving one’s physical well being after stroke is not so different from improving one’s physical well being in other circumstances. It involves proper diet, exercise, adequate sleep, and avoidance of harmful substances. Among the most important factors after a stroke is the rehabilitation effort. For months after a stroke, the body and brain do their best to compensate for the deficit. Physical rehabilitation can help the process along. In a sense, improvement after stroke is a matter of relearning new ways of doing old things. Practice and exercise can improve physical skills in anyone, including stroke patients. There are no short cuts, though, no pills that will take the place of hard work. Memory improvement also requires effort. Some centers have established “cognitive rehabilitation” programs, in principle analogous to physical rehabilitation. There is controversy as to how well these work. Many doctors and insurance plans don’t feel they are of proven value. Unfortunately, it
