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October 29 is World Stroke Day. The disease, from which it is impossible to fully defend itself, is rapidly growing younger. Healthy Food Near Me publishes stories of several Russian women who experienced this experience in their prime.
Admit it honestly, first of all – to yourself, how often do you examine your body for the timely identification of problems? Most likely the answer is: extremely rare. Therefore, it is so important to draw public attention to certain ailments in order to prevent them.
On October 29, Stroke Day is celebrated all over the world.
A stroke is an acute disorder of blood circulation in the brain caused by a blockage or rupture of blood vessels. Neurons in the hemispheres starve and die, resulting in serious impairment of motor functions, speech and memory.
We are used to thinking that stroke affects the elderly, which is not entirely true. In fact, it can come to light in any person. In recent years, stroke has become younger: more and more people are diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 40. Especially for Healthy Food Near Me, medical experts talked about the reasons for the alarming trend, and also gave advice on how to prevent a stroke and what to look for if it has already happened.
In the same article, we share three real-life stories of women experiencing cerebral hemorrhage before the age of 35. We hope that someone else’s experience will at least make you think about the most important thing – your health.
, 36 years old, self-esteem coach, personal growth coach
The stroke that was given to me is an opportunity to change my life, to slow down the course of crazy events that I invented for myself. I hope my story will be useful for the readers, and if at least one girl hears me, looks at herself and thinks about it in time, I will be happy. This means that my mission is in full swing and I have not just been left here alive.
Looking back at the events of 2016, at the 31-year-old myself, I boldly declare that I myself have brought myself to this state.
There was a conflict between the body and the psyche: from a deep dislike for oneself, inability to hear oneself, irresponsible attitude to one’s health. I lived in a state of “Everything by myself”: I do not need help, I do not know how to ask, accept, feel my desires, pamper myself, relax and rest.
On May 13, 2016, I had a stroke – a 6-centimeter cerebral hemorrhage.
But then I did not know this yet: at one point I felt a strong blow to my temple, and my head ached sharply. It was a hell of a pain: the doctors saw no reason for concern and, having diagnosed me with vegetative-vascular dystonia, let me go home. For four days I lived in a state of crisis with a high probability of death. My condition worsened. I realized that something terrible was happening, and with a fight I won back the opportunity to do an MRI.
The study confirmed a cerebral hemorrhage that required surgery. But I refused a momentary hospitalization: there were unfinished business at home (inexplicable, but a fact).
Then I, too, could not step over myself, call my friends and confess: “I feel bad, help me.” It was uncomfortable for me to disturb someone, and I decided that I could handle it myself: I got behind the wheel and took myself to the hospital. I spent two weeks in intensive care, survived a craniotomy, after which she spoke inhibited, walked along the wall. Rehabilitation (including the return of normal speech and the ability to walk without support) took 10 months.
Only a dent in the temple reminds of what happened.
Thank God I was smart enough to rethink my life. I held a leading position (equally nerves, stress and wild overload) in an IT company, but after the incident I realized that this could not continue. And she mastered a more female profession – she became a stylist. And then he became an ambassador of the ORBI Stroke Foundation and a personal growth coach.
I realized why I was given such a lesson in life.
This has become my mission: on Instagram, using my story as an example, I honestly tell how self-love can turn into a tragedy. Today, at my trainings, I share tips on how to slow down, start hearing yourself, stop depreciating, letting you live out of the state of self-love. To be that very woman. I wish you all great health, it is indecent to love yourself and not to postpone life for later.
, 34 years old, poet, journalist, producer
I’m 34 years old. I have two marriages and two children in my piggy bank, several businesses, creative and coaching projects, the fourth book of poetry has recently been published. Today my readers are all over the world, I am actively working, traveling, moving to new cities, doing what I love. But all this might not have happened if not for my … stroke.
I was 20, and I considered a stroke as a disease of the elderly. From my own experience, I had to make sure that this is not the case.
I was discharged from the hospital with a cheeky baby in my arms, and three weeks later – quite unexpectedly – he had an ischemic stroke.
Ischemic stroke is generally more tolerated than hemorrhagic stroke. But “easier” is still very, very bad. In my case, there was a blockage of the vessel with a thrombus – as a result of violations in the blood coagulation system. The drugs that doctors used in the postpartum period were contraindicated for me, but no one knew about it: no examinations were carried out then, the tests during pregnancy were excellent, no one in the family had any blood problems or strokes.
When I felt bad, the ambulance refused to pick me up: I’m a healthy young woman, well, you think, my head hurts, what can happen to me?
Then, 14 years ago, I was incredibly lucky: through my acquaintances I managed to find an experienced neurologist who came to my house and immediately suggested a stroke. The MRI confirmed the diagnosis.
At a young age, recovery is faster. It took me about six months to regain mobility in the hand and facial muscles, to learn to write again, to get used to visual impairments (it was the visual center that suffered, it depends on which part of the brain was affected). All this time, I was taking serious medications (only a doctor can pick them up, in any case, do not self-medicate!), I found out and took control of the cause of the stroke, and, most importantly, I decided on my attitude to what happened.
My relatives sympathized with me, the doctors offered to formalize my disability. I honestly asked myself: “Ok, it happened to me. Let’s think – why? “
A stroke divided my life into “before” and “after”. In a good way. Before I lived with dreams of the future, I always lacked something for happiness, I wanted to be anyone, but not myself. After that I learned to appreciate every minute, enjoy life, connected with my own body and its needs, began to listen and hear to myself, began to trust my gift.
Thanks to a stroke, I know that taking care of myself is important, and being honest with yourself is even more important. There is no postponed life, there is only here and now. What do you do, who do you live with, what do you believe in, what do you do to make your dreams come true? Thanks to a stroke, I am not looking forward to a tomorrow that may never come. And I also believe that human capabilities are almost endless, if you do not get hung up on templates and attitudes and give yourself and the Universe a chance for a miracle.
After a stroke, I was categorically forbidden to give birth. I have lived with this installation for 14 years.
During this time, age-related changes increased, the doctors asked: “Why do you need another child? You have – and that’s enough. ” But I knew for sure that the time would come and I would have a daughter. I listened to my body and understood: I can. In March 2020, we had a healthy, beautiful girl. The only limitation I had to go for was having a caesarean section.
The stroke taught me not to be afraid and not to give up. We walk under God, at any moment our familiar world can change. But in these same changes there is a chance for a new life. A stroke is a borderline state, everything could have ended differently, but you are alive and you have been given a chance. You just have to use it.
Alexandra, 37 years old, teacher-philologist
Fortunately, as such, I did not have a stroke. Rather, it is a pre-stroke condition or the onset of a stroke noticed in time.
I was 33 years old. For two or three months I lost consciousness: I did not faint, but as if I was falling through, for some time I fell out of life. For example, somehow I was driving and passed out, and woke up only when I crashed into the car ahead. Once I was walking down the street with the children and fell. Only a second passed: I did not even understand – either I stumbled or lost consciousness.
On the day when everything happened, there was a 40-degree heat, and I closed the cucumbers for the winter. There was no air conditioner in the kitchen, so the heat from the stove only raised the temperature. In the evening I went to the doctor – I needed a certificate for the pool.
They measured my pressure – 200 to 120.
They thought that the tonometer had broken down, all the more I felt normal, not counting the fatigue after spending a day on my feet in the kitchen. The doctor took another tonometer – the same indicators.
I don’t remember what happened next. The doctors immediately realized that this was a harbinger of a stroke, ran around me, carried out some manipulations. I remember shouts: “Faster, faster, she is now having a stroke!” They gave an injection, then called someone, and began to insist on hospitalization. I refused: there were small children at home. I lay down for a while and left, promising to return the next day.
But the next day I refused to go to the hospital: the pressure stabilized, and the necessary procedures (droppers, for example) could be done without hospitalization.
However, after 3-4 days I began to notice that it was as if flies were flying in front of my eyes and the back of my head ached very badly.
In between work, everyday life, taking care of children, their school and training, I did an MRI and other necessary procedures, but did not go to a serious examination. Of course, today I understand that this is wrong. Fortunately, everything worked out.
After that incident, my coordination changed: almost everything that I used to do with my right hand is now done with my left.
With the right one I only write and cut. I also noticed that it was on my right hand that now I cannot fully squeeze my fingers. To this day, when the pressure rises, the back of the head begins to hurt. If I get nervous, my hands shake right away. Before, I never had a problem with pressure – now I can feel it.
My grandmother, she is 92 years old, has been treated with brilliant green and tar soap all her life and still does not know what pressure is. Of course, this state of affairs saddened me, 33 years old. As well as the fact that I have the old lady’s medicine in the first aid kit. Fortunately, at some point I realized that I should be happy with what you have. I said to myself: “I am a young, healthy girl,” I signed up for the gym and since then I enjoy life. Of course, I understand that since there were bells, a stroke may occur in the future, but I try to drive away bad thoughts from myself and live in the present.
Photo Shoot: personal archive of heroines, Getty Images