The Productive Woman

Experiencing a health emergency served as a wake-up call for me, highlighting the importance of taking care of my health. This week I'm sharing some things I've learned and changes I've made to get and stay healthy after a stroke last fall.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional. My intention in this episode is not to advise you or recommend anything, but just to share what I’m doing, based on my doctors’ advice and my research. Please consult your medical providers for recommendations for your own health journey.



When your body signals a problem, it's wise to listen and do what's necessary to get and stay healthy

As I mentioned in episode 501, I had a stroke--actually multiple small strokes--in mid-November 2024 when my husband and I were camping at a lake not far from our home. I’m grateful to have, at this point, no residual physical or neurological deficits, but the experience was a major wake-up call for me, highlighting the importance of taking care of my health--something I had neglected, telling myself I didn’t have time to do the things necessary because of my busy law practice and other commitment. Facing this major health event made me realize that I was wrong, and that I would have to make the time to make necessary changes in how I was living my life.

Background - What I learned in the days and weeks following the stroke

While the doctors didn't pinpoint the cause of my stroke(s), they did identify factors present in my life that contribute to the increased risk of stroke, including weight gain, a sedentary lifestyle, a high fat/high sugar/junk food diet (which led to elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both risk factors for stroke and heart disease), and chronic stress (working long days under high stress).

While at the hospital and after discharge, I was seen by various doctors, primarily a neurologist and a cardiologist. They prescribed medications and lifestyle changes, including a healthier diet, regular exercise, and rest and stress management.

Steps I took (and am taking) to get and stay healthy

I have a busy law practice, a family I love and want to spend time with, a home to care for, and a podcast. Taking care of my health needs to fit into the same 24 hours a day along with the other things that are important to me. Following are some of the things I do to improve my health while not spending all my time on it.

Educate myself


Since the doctor recommended the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods, chicken and fish more than red meat, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil, I researched it--online articles and recipes, YouTube videos, books and cookbooks
I researched the medications prescribed for me, to understand what they do, what side effects I might experience, etc., and things I can do to minimize the side effects 
I researched stroke risk factors and ways to mitigate them. I also talked to a friend who’d had a much more serious stroke years ago about how she recovered.
I researched fitness ideas--finding ways to improve my cardiovascular health with my own physical limitations (age--I'm about to turn 65; flexibility limits of my hips, weak knee after repairs to a torn meniscus a couple of years ago)


Tracking

I developed mechanisms for tracking my health metrics (weight, blood pressure, etc.), but also ways of keeping track of the things I need to do to improve and maintain my health.


* I use both a notebook and the Apple Health app to track the medications I take, my blood pressure, and any symptoms I experience. I take my blood pressure twice a day using a