Take advantage of tools to help stroke patients.
The weakness and paralysis that may occur with your muscles can make it difficult to do your own shopping, prepare and cook your own food, or hold plates, glasses, and utensils. In this instance, it is essential to ask for help, from loved ones or medical professionals, in getting and making healthy meals. It can be not only difficult to feed yourself, but embarrassing when things do not go the way you’re used to.
Luckily, there are items specifically made to help those recovering from a stroke manage better. For example, some stroke-friendly utensils have larger handles or straps so that you can get a grip on them more easily. If you’re struggling from paralysis of one side of the body, special knives are made with a curve in them to make cutting food easier, and you can attach special guards around your plate to keep your food stabilized. There are also special rubber mats to keep plates still, although it may be cheaper to look for simple place mats or cupboard liners for those with financial difficulties.
Did you know...
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.
- A hearty laugh is good for the heart. Laughing can increase blood flow by 20%. Additionally, looking on the bright side can help you live longer. Studies have shown that a more optimistic outlook is linked to a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and a lower risk for coronary artery disease.
- Have you ever told your husband something and he promptly forgets it? It's not his fault, actually. It really is because he's a man. The hippocampus (the part of the brain that deals with memory) begins to shrink with age faster in men than it does in women. That's why you can remember everything, and he can't!
- There are many factors that contribute to your body odor, but one of the strongest links is our diet. This may be some bad news for meat-lovers because many studies have shown that those who refrained from or ate less red meat were judged as being more pleasant smelling. The meat sweats are real, and they don’t smell great!
- Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.