Lifestyle changes since my stroke
I’ve made a number of lifestyle changes since my stroke. If I’d known I was going to have a stroke, I would have made them earlier. Then I wouldn’t have had a stroke in the first place.
Smoking.
I stopped smoking. And yes it’s corny I know, but I stopped smoking at a stroke 
They wouldn’t let me smoke in intensive care and once I got out of hospital I didn’t want to smoke. I knew it had been a big contributor to my condition and that if I kept smoking I could very easily end up in intensive care again. And I have no desire to end up there again thanks very much.
Bear in mind that I had smoked since I was 14 years old. That’s 35 years of smoking between 20 and (at my ‘peak’) 60 cigarettes a day. And I stopped just like that.
If you’ve tried to stop smoking and failed, try again. You can do it.
If I can stop smoking, anybody can. Seriously.
Exercise
I started to exercise. Prior to my stroke, about the only exercise I got was walking from the car to the front door. Now I go for a one mile walk every single morning in the park. And I’ve got to admit it makes me feel much better. Plus I do some of my best thinking when I’m walking round.
Diet
I changed my diet. The biggest change was in the red meats, they haven’t totally bitten the dust but I eat far less steaks and hamburgers these days and more chicken and fish. I eat a lot more vegetables and fruits as well. I concentrate on things that are good for me, not just things that I like.
A lot of the stuff I eat now doesn’t come in a packet. Nor does it get delivered by Domino’s.
All of this is designed to lower my blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
One other change is that I take a lot of pills as well, if you shook me I would rattle.
If I’d made the lifestyle changes earlier, I wouldn’t need the pills.
Change your lifestyle now and you won’t need to bother with the pills.
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Hi David,
You really described your experience of having a stroke in an interesting and humorous, yet factual account. Thanks for that.
Did it make me think?
Yes.
I have systemic lupus, high blood pressure, cholesterol… blah, blah
which makes me an excellent candidate for a stroke or heart attack, so a healthy lifestyle is a must for me too and I do eat healthily and take regular exercise 99% of the time.
My biggest downfall - and yes I know it’s a huge one - is smoking. I recently started again, having been ‘clean’ for four years. D’oh!
I’m subscribed to your Rss feed and will be an eager reader of your tips and recipes from now on
Cheers David.
Keep Well.
Steph.