How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Stroke?
A stroke attack can be shocking for the patient and the entire family. But many patients have luckily survived this. So the question here is, how long does it take to recover from a stroke? According to doctors, the stroke recovery period depends on the severity of the stroke. It is crucial to prioritize the recovery of stroke patients as might lead to several problems like oral health issues, mental health decline, and emotional setback.

A stroke attack can be shocking for the patient and the entire family. But many patients have luckily survived this. So the question here is, how long does it take to recover from a stroke? According to doctors, the stroke recovery period depends on the severity of the stroke. It is crucial to prioritize the recovery of stroke patients as might lead to several problems like oral health issues, mental health decline, and emotional setback.
Stroke Recovery Period
The fastest recovery period usually takes place from the first three months to six months of stroke rehabilitation. Yet, some patients show significant improvement a year after their therapy sessions. Some of the factors that affect the recovery time are:
- which areas of the brain does the stroke occur
- how severe is the brain damage
- how long did it take to stop the bleeding or blood clot in the brain
- the general health of the patient and age
- the quality of the rehabilitation program provided by the nursing facility
Importance of Quick Action in Stroke Recovery
A stroke occurs when the blood flow going to the brain is disrupted by a clot that stops blood flow. It may also occur due to blood leakage or blood burst, which results in brain bleeding. The brain gets damaged because the brain cells die when there is a lack of oxygen.
So why is it essential for a patient to be treated promptly after a stroke? Because the longer they wait, the more neurons they lose, thus, damaging the patient’s ability to speak, move, and remember.
Doctors usually treat an ischemic stroke by giving the patient a clot-dissolving drug. Taking your loved one to the hospital as fast as you could play a vital role in ensuring that they don’t develop permanent damage to the brain.
Stroke Rehabilitation Progress
How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Stroke? As mentioned, the recovery of stroke patients varies. Some stroke survivors recover in few weeks, others regain their mobility a few months after a stroke attack, and others do not require stroke rehabilitation.
On the contrary, some patient’s recovery may require the help of occupational therapists. These include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Each of these focuses on specific parts of the brain that are most likely damaged by the stroke. The rehabilitation plan will teach your loved ones to retrieve their skills. If full recovery is no longer possible, inpatient rehabilitation will teach them new ways to cope with their disability to still function as a person.
According to Bryan Ludwig, a neuro interventionalist from Premier Health Neuroscience Institute, rehabilitation usually works amazingly for many patients. It can repair and heal the areas that have been damaged after the occurrence of stroke. Sometimes the rehabilitation lasts for weeks, and some may take a few months, depending on how the therapy works for the patient.
How Therapies Help Survivors
Your therapist can help you overcome the following problems caused by stroke:
Speech Problems
One of the common effects of stroke is problems in speaking. The patient may find it harder to speak clearly than he used to, and his family may have difficulty understanding what he is trying to say. Some patients may even have trouble solving math problems and writing and reading. But the good thing is that patients can expect the rehab to improve their communication skills and quality of life.
Mobility Issues
Another physical problem that comes following a stroke is the inability to move freely and independently. Your loved ones’ physical strength will no longer be the same. They might even find it hard to sit or walk on their own. Because of this, oral health decline is also common among stroke patients. Click on this link to learn more about the importance of oral health amid other health problems. However, physical therapy exercises can help them improve their movements in weeks or months. The best way to regain physical mobility is by setting a goal that you want to achieve after each session.
Behavioral and Emotional Setbacks
The effects of stroke on a person’s emotional health may make them confused, irritable, careless, and forgetful. They need more support as they might also develop anger issues, depression, and anxiety. Your loved ones’ behavior and mental health will recover in due time, but it’s hard to say how quickly this will happen.
If a stroke patient was taken to the hospital for treatment as early as possible, healthcare providers could easily manage these problems through skilled nursing. Long-term therapies may not be needed, and the patient can go back to their old life right away.
How to Care for A Stroke Survivor Loved One
Recovering from a stroke is not easy. But one of the things that most people forget is that it is also hard to care for a stroke survivor. The mood swings, unpleasant behavior, and inability to support themselves are also hard to deal with.
Here are some of the tips that you might find helpful:
Measure their progress. Every minor improvement matters when it comes to stroke recovery. List down what they are starting to accomplish without assistance, like standing, sitting, and speaking. You can use this list to encourage them to keep moving forward when they are losing hope.
Do not ignore depression. If possible, bring them outside from time to time, invite some friends and family over, or prepare a delightful dinner for them. Once they start to show signs of depression, it would help to seek professional help.
The Takeaway
Stroke has a significant impact on a person’s life. It has the potential to drag them down and cause them to lose hope. The role of the family plays a crucial role in seeking emergency care and ensuring that the individual gets all his medical needs. Therapists can manage its effects on physical and mental health with the help of rehabilitation and therapies.
References:
Stroke Recovery: How Long Does It Take? (https://www.premierhealth.com/your-health/articles/women-wisdom-wellness-/stroke-recovery-how-long-does-it-take-)